NOTE BY THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL PROGRESS IN THE ELIMINATION OF THE SYRIAN CHEMICAL WEAPONS PROGRAMME / EC-M-34/DG.1

NOTE BY THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL PROGRESS IN THE ELIMINATION OF THE SYRIAN CHEMICAL WEAPONS PROGRAMME 1. The Executive Council (hereinafter “the Council”) at its Thirty-Third Meeting, held on 27 September 2013, adopted a decision entitled “Destruction of Syrian Chemical Weapons” (EC-M-33/DEC.1, dated 27 September 2013). This was followed by the adoption on the same day by the United Nations Security Council of resolution 2118 (2013), which endorsed the decision by the Council. That resolution, inter alia, welcomed the Council decision, requested the Director-General and the Secretary-General to closely cooperate in the implementation of the Council decision, and requested further that the Director-General report to the Security Council, through the Secretary-General. 2. In subparagraph 2(f) of its decision, the Council requested the Technical Secretariat (hereinafter “the Secretariat”) to “report to the Council on a monthly basis on implementation of this decision including progress achieved by the Syrian Arab Republic in meeting the requirements of this decision and the Convention, activities carried out by the Secretariat with respect to the Syrian Arab Republic, and its needs for any supplementary resources, particularly technical and personnel resources.” In paragraph 12 of resolution 2118 (2013), the United Nations Security Council decided to “review on a regular basis the implementation in the Syrian Arab Republic of the decision of the OPCW Executive Council of 27 September 2013 and this resolution”, and requested the Director-General to “report to the Security Council, through the Secretary-General”. 3. This first monthly report covers the period from 27 September to 22 October 2013. The Chemical Weapons Convention (hereinafter “the Convention”) entered into force for the Syrian Arab Republic on 14 October 2013. Progress achieved by the Syrian Arab Republic in meeting the requirements of EC-M-33/DEC.1 4. Progress achieved within the reporting period by the Syrian Arab Republic in fulfilling its obligations as established in paragraph 1 of Council decision EC-M-33/DEC.1 is described below: (a) In accordance with subparagraph 1(a) of the Council decision, on 4 October 2013, the Syrian Arab Republic submitted information to supplement that provided on 19 September 2013, on the chemical weapons and other relevant capabilities that it owns or possesses, or has under its EC-M-34/DG.1 page 2 jurisdiction or control. Information required in points (i) to (iii) of subparagraph 1(a) of the Council decision was provided. As required by subparagraph 2(a) of the Council decision, the Secretariat made this supplementary information available to all States Parties within five days of its receipt. The Syrian Arab Republic has also provided additional information to the Secretariat, including: inventories of chemical weapons storage facilities (CWSFs) (munitions, chemical agents and precursors); site diagrams for CWSFs, including buildings and their current condition; information regarding components of binary weapons; site diagrams and process flow diagrams for certain chemical weapons production facilities (CWPFs); information on the nature of activities conducted and current status of CWPF buildings and equipment, including mixing and filling facilities (both fixed and mobile); information about the nature of activities at research and development facilities; and information about the test and evaluation site. In total, the Syrian Arab Republic has submitted information on 41 facilities1 at 23 sites (18 CWPFs, including filling facilities, 12 CWSFs, eight mobile filling units, and three chemical weapons-related facilities), approximately 1,000 metric tonnes (MTs) of Category 1 chemical weapons (largely binary chemical weapon precursors), approximately 290 MTs of Category 2 chemical weapons, and approximately 1,230 unfilled chemical munitions. In addition, the Syrian authorities have reported finding two cylinders not belonging to them, which are believed to contain chemical weapons. (b) In accordance with subparagraph 1(b) of the Council decision, the Syrian Arab Republic shall submit the initial declaration required by Article III of the Convention not later than 30 days after the adoption of the Council decision, that is, not later than 27 October 2013. The Secretariat continues to assist the Syrian authorities in compiling the initial declaration, and it is expected to be submitted prior to the aforementioned deadline. (c) In accordance with subparagraph 1(c) of the Council decision, the Syrian Arab Republic is required to complete the elimination of all chemical weapons material and equipment in the first half of 2014. The Secretariat is working with the Syrian authorities to develop the general plan for destruction of Syrian chemical weapons and CWPFs, which is due to be submitted as part of the initial declaration required by Article III of the Convention not later than 27 October. In this regard, as at the cut-off date for this report, the Syrian Arab Republic had destroyed 12 items of Category 3 chemical weapons (unfilled munitions). (d) In accordance with subparagraph 1(d) of the Council decision, the Syrian Arab Republic is required to complete as soon as possible, and in any case not later than 1 November 2013, the functional destruction (rendering useless or inoperable) of chemical weapons production and mixing and filling equipment. In this regard, as at the cut-off date for this report, the Syrian Arab 1 Following the receipt on 23 October 2013 of the initial declaration required by Article III, the number of declared facilities has been amended to a total of 41. One of the disclosed CWPFs was unintentionally counted twice in the disclosure made on 19 September, while one of the disclosed CWSFs was found to be completely empty and thus not declarable as a CWSF. EC-M-34/DG.1 page 3 Republic had functionally destroyed items of critical chemical weapons production and mixing and filling equipment at 20 of the 26 CWPFs (including mixing and filling facilities). It is anticipated that all relevant equipment will have been functionally destroyed by 1 November 2013. (e) In accordance with subparagraph 1(e) of the Council decision and paragraph 7 of resolution 2118 (2013), the Syrian Arab Republic shall cooperate fully with all aspects of their implementation. The Syrian authorities have extended the necessary cooperation to the OPCW team in the conduct of its activities during the reporting period. (f) In accordance with subparagraph 1(f) of the Council decision, the Syrian Arab Republic shall designate an official as the main point of contact for the Secretariat and provide him or her with the authority necessary to ensure that the decision is fully implemented. Through a letter dated 4 October 2013, the Syrian authorities informed the Secretariat that the Syrian National Authority had been established within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and that an official, who has the rank of Vice-Minister, had been designated as the main point of contact. Activities carried out by the Secretariat with respect to the Syrian Arab Republic 5. In accordance with subparagraph 2(b) of the Council decision and paragraph 8 of resolution 2118 (2013), the Secretariat promptly deployed a team, totalling 19 persons, to the Syrian Arab Republic on 1 October 2013, in close coordination with the United Nations. At the request of the Syrian authorities, some members of the team conducted a technical-assistance visit. Additional personnel arrived in Damascus on 10 October 2013. The overall objectives of this initial deployment were to: (a) assess the information submitted by the Syrian Arab Republic pursuant to subparagraph 1(a) of the Council decision; (b) develop a programme of activities; and (c) verify the destruction of critical items of chemical weapons production equipment. 6. Various meetings have been held with Syrian government officials, including the main point of contact referred to in subparagraph 4(f) above. These meetings allowed for ensuring the engagement of relevant Syrian authorities in terms of: promoting understanding by the Syrian Arab Republic of its obligations pursuant to the Council decision as well as resolution 2118 (2013); explaining the operational needs regarding information and technical expertise required from relevant Syrian authorities and experts; clarifying the information submitted by the Syrian Arab Republic referred to in subparagraph 4(a) above; and developing plans for inspecting the facilities contained in such information pursuant to subparagraph 2(c) of the Council decision. 7. Additional meetings have been held in The Hague between Secretariat personnel and relevant representatives of the Syrian Arab Republic. Such meetings were intended to provide assistance to the Syrian authorities in the compilation of the initial declaration EC-M-34/DG.1 page 4 and general plan for destruction as required by Article III of the Convention. The Director-General has also met with senior Syrian officials in The Hague. 8. In accordance with subparagraph 2(c) of the Council decision, within the reporting period, Secretariat personnel completed inspections at 37 of the 41 facilities about which the Syrian Arab Republic provided information to the Secretariat. As at the cut-off date of this report, the findings of the inspections corroborated the information provided by the Syrian Arab Republic about the above-mentioned facilities. Secretariat personnel continue to carry out activities aimed at assessing the information submitted by the Syrian Arab Republic. It is estimated that, in light of the current rate of progress and subject to the resolution of current security restrictions in the country, the Secretariat personnel should be able to complete all inspections pursuant to subparagraph 2(c) of the Council decision within the timeframe established therein. A small number of the sites that remain to be inspected pose particular security challenges. Inspections of these sites are subject to regular risk assessments by the United Nations Department for Safety and Security, with input from the Syrian authorities. Currently they are considered too dangerous to visit. 9. During the inspections, and in light of the timelines contained in the Council decision, Secretariat personnel have also overseen the functional destruction of items of critical chemical weapons production and mixing and filling equipment, as described in subparagraph 4(d) above. 10. Furthermore, the Secretariat personnel, during the inspections, have overseen the destruction of Category 3 chemical weapons, as described in subparagraph 4(c) above. 11. The Syrian Arab Republic requested assistance from the OPCW with regard to the procurement of sufficient equipment to complete the functional destruction of critical chemical weapons production and mixing and filling equipment within the established timeframes. The Secretariat and United Nations personnel facilitated the procurement of such equipment. 12. Following the Framework Agreement between the Russian Federation and the United States of America, these two States Parties offered to assist the Secretariat with regard to possible destruction options for Syrian chemical weapons and chemical weapons production and mixing and filling facilities. The Secretariat facilitated informal discussions at OPCW Headquarters to develop concepts and options for the destruction of Syrian chemical weapons and related equipment, with the participation of Syrian officials. Based on these discussions, the Secretariat provided advice to the Syrian Arab Republic on the methodologies for the functional destruction of critical items of chemical weapons production and mixing and filling equipment and on the prioritisation of facilities. 13. In addition, an Operational Planning Group (OPG) will provide advice on operational and logistical aspects relating to the destruction of Syrian chemical weapons. The OPG will provide advice with regard to the identification of requirements for possible in-kind contributions from States Parties. The OPG consists of OPCW and United Nations personnel and national experts provided by States Parties in a position to do so. EC-M-34/DG.1 page 5 Supplementary resources 14. On 16 October 2013, the Secretariat issued a call for voluntary contributions for the destruction of Syrian chemical weapons (S/1132/2013, dated 16 October 2013). As described in the Note, the Secretariat has established a trust fund to provide funding to facilitate the technical activities of the OPCW in support of the verification of the destruction of Syrian chemical weapons. The United Nations has established, in coordination with the OPCW, a trust fund to support efforts to destroy Syrian chemical weapons in accordance with resolution 2118 (2013). The OPCW trust fund had a balance of EUR 4 million as at the cut-off date of this report, having received contributions from Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United States of America. A further four States Parties had made pledges to contribute an additional amount of EUR 2.7 million. The Director-General would like to express his appreciation to those States Parties that have already made voluntary contributions to the trust fund, or have committed to doing so. 15. It is the assessment of the Secretariat that its existing personnel resources are sufficient for operations to be conducted in October and November 2013. The Director-General has engaged two former staff members on the basis of special-service agreements. Using funds provided in the regular Programme and Budget for 2013 and contributions made to the trust fund described in paragraph 14 above, the Secretariat has acquired various items of equipment identified as necessary for operations in the Syrian Arab Republic. As and when requirements for either technical or personnel resources dictate, the Secretariat will inform States Parties accordingly. The Secretariat would like to express its gratitude to those States Parties that have already provided support, namely: Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands for air transportation for the deployed teams; the European External Action Service, some European Union Member States, and the United States of America for providing armoured vehicles; and Canada for providing air transportation for the vehicles supplied by the United States of America. Establishment of the OPCW-UN Joint Mission in Syria 16. As from the deployment of the OPCW personnel to the Syrian Arab Republic on 1 October 2013, the United Nations has provided safety and security support, as well as logistical, medical, and administrative support, in accordance with paragraph 8 of resolution 2118 (2013). 17. On 16 October 2013, the OPCW and the United Nations established an OPCW-UN Joint Mission in Syria (JMIS), which was described in the letter submitted by the United Nations Secretary-General, in consultation with the Director-General, to the United Nations Security Council on 7 October 2013. Also on 16 October 2013, the Director-General and the United Nations Secretary-General signed the “Supplementary Arrangement Concerning Cooperation Between the United Nations and the OPCW for the Implementation of the OPCW Executive Council Decision EC-M-33/DEC.1 and United Nations Security Council Resolution 2118 (2013) Relating to the Elimination of Syrian Chemical Weapons”. The United Nations Secretary-General, in consultation with the Director-General, appointed Ms Sigrid Kaag as Special Coordinator of the JMIS to provide overall coordination of the Joint Mission. Ms Kaag visited the OPCW on 19 October 2013 to meet with the EC-M-34/DG.1 page 6 Director-General and other Secretariat officials. The OPCW and the United Nations have initiated negotiations with the Syrian Arab Republic on a Status of Mission Agreement concerning the status of the JMIS.