Lavrov: first team of OPCW inspectors to visit Syria shortly
MOSCOW. Sept 30 (Interfax) - The first mission of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) comprised of ten to twelve inspectors will visit Syria shortly, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
"The first team of ten to twelve OPCW inspectors will go to Syria on a billeting mission. They will choose a place to stay and a work method," Lavrov said in an interview published by Kommersant on Monday. The media said the inspectors might go to Syria already on October 1.
"They will establish contacts with the Syrian government, which has already appointed its liaison," the minister said. "The inspectors have a list of facilities [related to the chemical weapons program] submitted by the Syrian government. The list has been acknowledged as satisfactory but the inspectors may have additional questions. The Syrians will answer these [questions]," Lavrov said.
The inspectors will make a decision on hiring additional personnel for visits to chemical weapons sites, he said. "Security of this team is extremely important. It will be provided by Syrian law enforcement agencies, in the first turn. The resolution compels the opposition not to threaten the activity or lives of the inspectors in the territories adjoining the areas under its control," Lavrov said.
After that the UN Secretary General will present a report on additional steps, "which will be based on the outcomes of initial inspections and personnel security precautions," the minister said.
The report will also specify which type of international presence may be necessary, he added.
"We are ready to partake in every element of the upcoming operation, including inspection teams and administrative entities that may be set up onsite to coordinate UN and OPCW operations and entities that may have to be set up for assistance in the security measures of Syrian law enforcement authorities," the minister said.