Russian warship aids Syrian chemical weapons removal - ministry
11 April 2014, 18:07 -- The heavy nuclear cruiser Pyotr Velikiy has taken part in another operation to ensure safety during transportation of Syrian chemical weapons, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
'Pyotr Velikiy, in conjunction with China's frigate Huangshan and the Royal Danish Navy's Esbern Snare ship, has fulfilled the task of escorting and providing safety for the Danish special transportation vessel Ark Futura carrying another batch of Syrian chemical weapons on board. The task was fulfilled successfully,' a Russian Navy spokesperson told Interfax-AVN on Friday.
This is the 13th operation of escorting the chemical weapons in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea since January 2014, the spokesperson said.
Cooperation with the Chinese, Danish, Norwegian and Syrian Navy ships during the sea transportation of the chemical weapons is coordinated by a center on board the Pyotr Velikiy, he said.
The center includes officers from the Russian Navy permanent naval force in the Mediterranean Sea, as well as command representatives from the Chinese, Norwegian and Danish warships taking part in the operation.
The naval phase of providing safe transportation of the Syrian chemical weapons is carried out in close cooperation with the international community, international forces at sea, the UN missions in Syria and Cyprus, and the mission of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the defense official said.
The warships have been providing safety and escort for the vessels carrying Syrian chemical weapons since January 2014 in accordance with a decision by the Russian Supreme Commander-in-chief and instructions from the Russian Defense Minister.
The tasks have been entrusted to the warships and support vessels from the Russian permanent naval force in the Mediterranean Sea and, more specifically, its flag ship Pyotr Velikiy.
Russia contributes to Syria's chemical demilitarization - Foreign Ministry
Syria succeeds in fulfilling its obligations under the chemical weapons convention, Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.
On April 4, over 64 tons of chemical weapons were delivered to Latakia Port. Totally, 59% of chemical weapons stockpiles have been withdrawn or eliminated, the ministry says.
'Syria has resumed transportation of chemical components and their precursors after a forced pause due to hit-and-run raids by radical armed opposition groups in Latakia's areas adjacent to the Turkish border,' it says.
'We worked hard with the countries concerned to persuade them to exert influence on the opposition for normalizing the situation in Latakia and fulfilling obligations under the chemical weapons convention,' the ministry says.
However, the ministry expressed regrets that the West remained indifferent to invitations for closer interaction in efforts to neutralize threats to the chemical weapons evacuation process from illegal armed units.
'In particular, the Western partners rejected Russia's proposal for a special statement by the UN Security Council chairman,' it says.
'Russia continues to make weighty contributions to Syria's chemical demilitarization,' the ministry says.
'We hope that Syria's chemical weapons will be eliminated in the first half of the year in accordance with the OPCW Executive Committee decisions and UN Security Resolution 2118,' it says.
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