MOSCOW, May 6 (RIA Novosti) - Syria, which decided to give up its chemical weapons stockpile, should become an example for other states in the region, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told RIA Novosti in an interview Tuesday.
“I would like to stress that there are other countries in the region, except Syria, which have not yet officially joined the convention on the prohibition of chemical weapons. We call on these countries to think over the recent developments – namely Syria’s move to eliminate more than 92 percent of its chemical weapons as well as facilities to produce it – and to opt in favor of joining the convention,” the diplomat said.
“Russia will continue to work in this direction and we expect that all Middle East capitals will draw conclusions from the present events,” he said.
Under a deal brokered by Moscow and Washington last year, Syria agreed to destroy its chemical weapons. The agreement allowed the Syrian government to stave off the threat of a US air strike.
The United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons established in October last year a joint mission to eradicate Syria’s chemical arsenal in the safest and most secure manner possible.
