U.S. extends offer to destroy Syrian chemical weapons

Dec. 2 (UPI) -- On Friday, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons announced that the United States has offered its help in destroying priority Syrian chemicals.

According to the OPCW announcement, "the United States has offered to contribute a destruction technology, full operational support and financing to neutralise Syria’s priority chemicals, which are to be removed from the country by 31 December."

White House National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden acknowledged that "We have offered and are currently outfitting a U.S. vessel with field deployable hydrolysis system technology to support the OPCW's efforts" to facilitate destruction of the chemicals at sea.

In mid-November, OPCW issued its final decision regarding the "Detailed Requirements for the Destruction of Syrian Chemical Weapons and Syrian Chemical Weapons Production Facilities." It calls for the removal of the "most critical" chemicals from Syria by December 31, 2013 and their destruction by March 31, 2014.

[OPCW] [Wall Street Journal]