MIRNY, October 30. /TASS/. Russia’s envoy to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and Ambassador to the Netherlands Alexander Shulgin has called for making clear the situation with production of chemical weapons on the territory controlled by the Syrian opposition.
"The situation around this facility should be made clear. I think that OPCW will use all opportunities to solve this task," Shulgin told TASS.
OPCW Director General Ahmet Uzumcu told TASS that the organization does not yet have direct contacts with the Syrian opposition on this issue. "We do not have direct contacts with Syrian opposition groups. But we hope that this facility will finally be destroyed. We are dealing with the Syrian government as our organization works only with governments," Uzumcu said.
Answering a question on whether the organization will raise the issue of the chemical weapons production facility at the United Nations, he noted that UN maintains contacts with the Syrian opposition. "If contacting the Syrian opposition is needed, it is better to address UN on this," he added.
Earlier this week Uzumcu said that there is a 13th chemical weapons facility which was not included in the initial declaration. The facility is located on the territory controlled by the Syrian opposition, and it remains unclear when the Syrian government may be able to take measures on this facility, he added.
He noted that 11 out of 12 chemical weapons facilities were destroyed in Syria, while the remaining facility is inaccessible due to combat actions.