UNITED NATIONS  -  The UN Security Council has approved the joint UN mission with the global chemical weapons watchdog to oversee the destruction of Syria’s stockpiles and production facilities.
Accordingly, up to 100 experts from UN and Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) will be deployed in a multi-phase operation to carry out last month’s Council resolution on eliminating Syria’s chemical weapons, scheduled for completion by 30 June, 2014. “We have a very tight deadline, but the United Nations is committed to work closely with the OPCW to get the job done. And I am just as committed and determined to make progress in the political and humanitarian tracks for the sake of the Syrian people,” said UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
The Council passed a resolution after Syria agreed to join the Chemical Weapons Convention following a chemical weapons attack in August that killed hundreds of people in Ghouta, a Damascus suburb. An advance team of experts and support staff from the OPCW and the UN have been in Syria since earlier in the month and already begun inspecting the destruction of Syria’s chemical stockpiles.
Prior to the Council’s open meeting, Pakistan U.N. Ambassador Masood Khan said during consultations that The United Nations was the best organization to support coordination and liaison with the Syrian Government and opposition groups for security, logistics and communication.
“This activity being undertaken by the UN and OPCW is not abstract diplomacy,” the Pakistan envioy said, pointing out that it was prompted by killings of 1400 innocent civilians in Ghouta on August 21.
 “The images of children who became inert and silent instantly on that fateful day are still fresh in our minds,” he said, adding that Pakistancondemns the use of chemical weapons by “whosoever, whenever and wherever under any circumstances”.
Ambassador Masood Khan said he was glad that the Syrian Government had provided information and type of chemical weapons, their location and storage, production, and mixing facilities, noting that destruction of chemical weapons had already begun under the supervision of the UN and OPCW.
“We welcome the cooperation extended by the Government of Syria so far and urge it to continue necessary assistance to the UN and OPCW to carry out their respective tasks,” the Pakistani envoy said, while calling for the mission’s safety by the Syrian authorities and opposition groups.
A preliminary investigation team sent into Syria to examine three sites where the use of chemical weapons was suspected was quickly diverted after a massive attack was carried out near Damascus Aug. 21 to determine whether such munitions were used.
The UN team determined chemical weapons were used in the attack, but not by whom. Shortly after the determination, the Syrian government said it would sign the Chemical Weapons Convention, join the OPCW and relinquish its vast arsenal to inspection, removal and destruction. The determination also led to quick action by the council and Resolution 2118 was unanimously approved, calling for elimination of chemical weapons in Syria.