OPCW: Syrian chemical weapons removal complete

THE HAGUE, Netherlands, June 23 (UPI) -- Syria has completed its goal of removing the remaining 7.2 percent of its chemical weapons material.

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and United Nations Joint Mission enthusiastically announced the Syrian government had reached its goal Monday.

Sigrid Kaag, Special Coordinator of the OPCW-U.N. Joint Mission in Damascus, issued a statement Monday to confirm that "The most operationally challenging task within the effort to eliminate the Syrian chemical weapons programme, has come to an end."

"In addition to the completion of the removal operation, the Syrian Arab Republic has destroyed all declared production, mixing and filling equipment and munitions, as well as many buildings associated with its declared chemical weapons programme. With the exception of twelve production facilities that are awaiting a decision by the Executive Council of OPCW, all of the declared Syrian chemical weapons programme has been eliminated in an unprecedented timeframe and under uniquely challenging conditions."

UN Security Council Resolution 2118 for the "Scheduled Destruction of Syria's Chemical Weapons" was adopted on September 27, 2013.