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Syria Grants OPCW Requested Access to Research Centers – Minister

DAMASCUS (Sputnik) - Syria’s government has approved an inspection by the joint panel of UN experts and a chemical weapons watchdog to two research centers, the deputy foreign minister told Sputnik.
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"We have approved all visits requested by the OPCW, including this one. It is an official inspection that pursues a specific goal. We will by no means hinder the OPCW and will let it get acquainted with our achievements – which is our commitment to obligations," Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad said.

READ MORE: Assad and Russian Envoy Discussing Formation of Syria Constitutional Commission

Currently, the minister who is a former Syrian top diplomat in the UN, heads a state committee that guarantees that Syria remains in compliance with a UN convention banning nuclear weapons after it destroyed them in a verified process in 2013.

Syria Accuses US-Led Coalition of Killing Civilians in Deir Ez-Zor - Reports
Earlier this month, the United Nations announced that it had picked two research centers in Barza and Jamraya, north of Damascus, for inspection by a UN-OPCW joint mechanism.

In addition, Syria’s Foreign Ministry urged earlier the UN to investigate the use by the US-led coalition of internationally banned white phosphorus in its recent bombing of the southeastern Syrian town of Hajin. 

The US-led coalition is conducting military operations in Syria against the Daesh* terrorist group (banned in Russia). The coalition's strikes have not been authorized by the Syrian government or the United Nations.

*Daesh (also known as ISIS/ISIL/IS) is a terrorist group banned in Russia

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