United Nations: Syria on Tuesday blamed delays in the destruction of its remaining chemical weapons production facilities on technical problems, including the delivery of explosives, and denied it was being uncooperative.
Syria had said last month that work on the destruction of the 12 hangars and tunnels would begin in November, but the Syrian company chosen to conduct the operation pulled out.
Two other Syrian companies were picked but the firm tasked with destroying five tunnels is waiting for deliveries of explosives and equipment, said Syria's UN Ambassador Bashar Jaafari.
"The Syrian government emphasizes that any delay in the delivery is the responsibility of the international parties, and not that of the Syrian government," he told reporters at UN headquarters.
"The destruction process of the 12 empty production facilities... is scheduled to begin later this month with the destruction of the first tunnel," he said.
Jaafari said it should be completed by June.
The UN Security Council heard a final report from special envoy Sigrid Kaag, who leads a UN mission to rid Syria of its chemical weapons in line with an agreement reached by Russia and United States.
Chadian Ambassador Cherif Mahamat Zene said the 15 members of the council had expressed their "concern about the need to destroy the 12 remaining production sites and to respect the timetable for the destruction."
A total of 1,300 metric tons of chemical weapons have been removed from Syria and most of those were destroyed on board the US Navy ship MV Cape Ray.
After an August 2013 sarin attack outside Damascus that much of the international community blamed on President Bashar al-Assad's government, the regime agreed to turn over its chemical arsenal.
Syria had said last month that work on the destruction of the 12 hangars and tunnels would begin in November, but the Syrian company chosen to conduct the operation pulled out.
Two other Syrian companies were picked but the firm tasked with destroying five tunnels is waiting for deliveries of explosives and equipment, said Syria's UN Ambassador Bashar Jaafari.
"The destruction process of the 12 empty production facilities... is scheduled to begin later this month with the destruction of the first tunnel," he said.
Advertisement
The UN Security Council heard a final report from special envoy Sigrid Kaag, who leads a UN mission to rid Syria of its chemical weapons in line with an agreement reached by Russia and United States.
Advertisement
A total of 1,300 metric tons of chemical weapons have been removed from Syria and most of those were destroyed on board the US Navy ship MV Cape Ray.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
One In Five Children Gets Exposed To Extreme Heat Globally, Says UN 5.5 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Syria Airstrike On Vehicle Kills 5 Pro-Iran Fighters In Syria: Report Nurse Raped, Killed On Way Home, Body Found 9 Days Later In UP Rahul Gandhi's Seat At Red Fort Triggers Fresh Congress Attack On BJP "Don't Expect Anything From Me": Kolkata Hospital's New Principal Loses Cool 'Don't Club Us With Others,' Says Manipur's Thadou Tribe, Waits For Peace Plan More Monkey Pox Cases Likely To Hit Europe Soon, Says WHO Israel To Build New Jewish Settlement Between Jerusalem, West Bank: Report Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.