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Chinese warship in Cyprus to aid Syrian mission
January 5, 2014, 5:48 am

Chinese Ambassador to Cyprus Liu Xinsheng and Cypriot Defence Minister Fotis Fotiou oversaw the arrival of the Chinese warship Yancheng [Xinhua]

Chinese Ambassador to Cyprus Liu Xinsheng and Cypriot Defence Minister Fotis Fotiou oversaw the arrival of the Chinese warship Yancheng [Xinhua]

Beijing has confirmed the arrival of a Chinese navy frigate in the Cypriot port of Limassol on Saturday to aid in the process of dismantling Syria’s chemical weapons.

Chinese Ambassador to Cyprus Liu Xinsheng and Cypriot Defence Minister Fotis Fotiou oversaw the arrival of the Chinese warship Yancheng.

Logistical problems and the ongoing Syrian war has resulted in a missed deadline and delays in the international effort to rid Syria of its arsenal.

The Chinese ambassador said Beijing is fully committed in its support to the efforts of the United Nations and its chemical watchdog, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

“China supports the efforts of the international community to destroy the Syrian chemical weapons … we wish this operation a success,” said Liu.

Earlier in December armoured Russian trucks were flown into Syria to transport the chemical weapons.

Syria agreed to abandon its chemical weapons under a deal proposed by Russia that was given the go-ahead by US President Barack Obama after intense negotiations between US Secretary of State John Kerry and the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

In accordance with the UN Security Council resolution in September 2013, the chemical weapons will be transported out of Syria and be delivered to an American vessel for destruction.

Vessels from China, Russia, Denmark and Norway will escort the transportation of the chemical weapons.

Meanwhile, the Italian Foreign Ministry has confirmed it has made one of the country’s ports available for the transfer of Syrian chemical stockpile to US vessel, the Cape Ray for destruction, Rai state television reported on Saturday.

 

Source: Agencies