OPCW Makes Key Decision on Syria Chemical Weapons

MOSCOW, September 28 (RIA Novosti) –The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) had approved its “historic” timetable for the elimination of Syria’s chemical stockpile on Saturday Moscow time, paving the way for a UN Security Council vote.

The OPCW said in a statement it had "adopted a historic decision on the destruction of Syria's chemical weapons" at a meeting in The Hague. The document is to be incorporated into the UN Security Council draft resolution.

The organization said its 41-nation executive council "agreed on an accelerated program for achieving the complete elimination of Syria's chemical weapons by mid-2014. The decision requires inspections in Syria to commence from 1 October 2013."

"The decision also calls for ambitious milestones for destruction which will be set by the (executive) council by 15 November," the statement reads.

Elimination of Chemical Weapons in the World

© Sputnik

The executive council halted its session earlier in the day, putting the UN vote into question. OPCW spokesman Michael Luhan said one of the delegations to the talks took a pause waiting for a final response from its capital.

The talks resumed at approximately 2:30 Moscow time [22:30 GMT]. The plan was passed shortly after and entered force immediately.