Syria vows to rid itself of Assad's chemical weapons legacy

FILE PHOTO: Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani speaks during a national dialogue, a key milestone in the transition to a new political system after decades of Assad rule, in Damascus, Syria February 25, 2025. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi/File Photo

THE HAGUE, (Reuters) - Syria's foreign minister vowed on Wednesday to swiftly rid the country of chemical weapons remaining after the downfall of the Bashar al-Assad's government, and appealed to the international community for help.

Asaad Hassan al-Shibani spoke during closed-door meetings at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague, where he became the first Syrian foreign minister to address the disarmament agency.