Ban Ki-moon criticises late elimination of Syria's chemical weapons

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday said the operation to eliminate Syria's chemical weapons programme is "now behind schedule" despite Damascus' ability to speed up the process. Ban told the Security Council in a report that "while remaining aware of the challenging security situation, it is the assessment" of the Joint Mission that Syria "has sufficient material and equipment to carry out multiple ground movements to ensure the expeditious removal of chemical weapons material." The Joint Mission groups the UN and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). Nevertheless, "the delay is not insurmountable," he said, adding that the June 30 deadline to rid Syria of its chemical weapons is "still months away." "It is imperative that (Syria) now examine the situation, intensify its efforts to expedite in-country movements of chemical weapons material and continue to meet its obligations under relevant Council and OPCW obligations," he urged. He said he has contacted the Syrian authorities to express his "concern" regarding the delay and the Special Coordinator of the Joint Mission Sigrid Kaag has similarly tried to persuade them to enable immediate removal of the banned weapons. She is scheduled to brief the Council on the progress of the operation next Thursday. Ban also expressed his gratitude to the member states that have made available "considerable assets" and have done so much to advance the elimination process. A US ship, equipment with the necessary machines, is expected to destroy the Syrian deadly weapons in international waters using the hydrolysis system.