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Cyprus to accept Syria’s chemical weapons

Former airport will serve as base for UN-OPCW experts
Photo EPA/ LOCAL COMMITTEE OF ARBEEN
Photo EPA/ LOCAL COMMITTEE OF ARBEEN

NICOSIA, October 18. (Itar-Tass) – Cyprus’ Cabinet has approved creation of a base for the joint mission of the United Nations and the Organisation for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. Government spokesman Christos Stylianides issued a written statement, according to which the base will be used by inspectors to destroy Syrian chemical weapons.

The base will be located on the territory of the Nicosia’s old airport, in the UN Buffer Zone, separating the island into areas under Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot control.

Currently the airfield is housing the UN military headquarters on Cyprus. Inspectors which will work there will live in Nicosia hotels. It’s expected that they will commute from Syria to Cyprus by helicopters. The distance between the Cypriot capital and Syrian port Latakia is around 225 kilometers. 

October 7 UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday sent a letter to the UN Security Council , which contains recommendations on the destruction of chemical weapons in Syria. UN Secretary-General’s deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq told Itar-Tass that this document would be published in the near future.