(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) The EU Monday welcomed the announcement today by Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) that the remaining 8 pct of the Syrian chemicals have been removed from the country and loaded on board the Danish vessel Ark Futura.
"This removal, although overdue, is certainly good news. International pressure and the concerted efforts by OPCW and the Joint OPCW-UN Mission have finally yielded results," said Michael Mann, spokesman for EU High Representative, Catherine Ashton, in a statement.
"Our special appreciation goes to the OPCW Director-General
Ambassador Uzumcu and his staff," it noted.
"Today's development marks the fulfillment of the main goal of this operation: the removal of the entire chemical weapons stockpile from Syria, so that the risk of having them used again is eliminated," it said.
"But there is still work to be done. The removed chemicals should be destroyed according to the OPCW Executive Council Decisions, in full respect of the relevant international norms and procedures and in taking all necessary measure for the protection of the environment," it stated.
"At the same time, we have to maintain pressure on Syria to ensure that the chemical weapons programme is completely and irreversibly dismantled, including the remaining production facilities.
"Last but not least the work of the Fact Finding Mission on the recent allegations of the use of chlorine should continue. The perpetrators of such horrific acts should be held accountable," stressed the statement.
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