Russia demands truth about Libyan chemical weapons

By Libya Herald Reporters.

Tripoli, 27 September 2014:

Russia has demanded the facts about Libya’s remaining chemical weapons, with foreign minister Sergei Lavrov that NATO could not pretend the problem did not exist.

Lavrov told the United Nations General Assembly today:  “We would like to see truthful information about the state of the chemical arsenal in Libya.

“We understand” he continued  “that our colleagues in NATO, having mutilated the country in violation of the UN Security Council resolution, would rather not touch the mayhem they have created. But the issue of  an uncontrolled Libyan chemical arsenal is too serious to turn a blind eye to it”.

Three days ago Prime Minister Abdullah Al-Thinni appealed to Hague-based  inter-governmental body, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons for help in getting rid of the final 850-tonne stockpile of chemical weapons that remains.

Work on destroying the deadly arsenal, which had begun before the Revolution, resumed in February 2012. Canada, Germany and the US were helping with the operation, which has since been suspended because of security concerns.

Under international law Libya is obliged to guard its chemical weapons. It is also supposed to be responsible for their destruction on Libya soil.  However a deal was reached with the Assad government in Syria for the removal of much of its chemical stockpile by outside countries for destruction beyond its borders.

http://www.libyaherald.com/2014/09/25/al-thinni-asks-for-help-to-remove-chemical-weapons-stockpile-citing-security-concerns/

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