Syria’s foreign minister Walid al-Muallem stated Tuesday that Syria was ready to sign an international agreement banning chemical weapons and pledged full disclosure of its storage sites, according to RT.com.
“We fully support Russia’s initiative concerning chemical weapons in Syria, and we are ready to cooperate,” Muallem said. “As part of the plan, we intend to join the Chemical Weapons Convention.” Though Syrian president Bashar Assad has denied the use of chemical weapons, Muallem stated, “We will open our storage sites, and cease production. We are ready to open these facilities to Russia, other countries, and the United Nations.”
Muallem also promised that Syria “intends to give up chemical weapons altogether.” This comes amidst the Russian proposal to have Syria hand over its chemical weapons in return for a promise that the United States would not use force.
Syria is one of five countries—including North Korea, Angola, Egypt, and South Sudan—that has not signed the Chemical Weapons Convention of 1993.