Syria joins OPCW

Starting Monday, October 14, Syria becomes an official member of the international Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

This means that starting this date, the convention on the ban of chemical weapons is valid in Syria.

The move comes as a part of a plan at Russia’s initiative, which would see the Syrian government hand down all chemical weapons under international control for destruction.

The Russian plan was devised to thwart a military strike on Syria by the US in August, after a chemical attack allegedly carried out by forces of embattled Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad.