Dutch Leads Disarmament Syria

Sigrid Kaag, a Dutch woman who at this moment works as assistant secretary general for the development program of the UN, is appointed to lead the disarmament mission of the UN in Syria. The chemical weapons of Syria have to be destroyed. This was agreed by the US, Russia and Syria around half September. The UN will cooperate in this mission with the OPWC, an organisation which is active with the forbidding of chemical weapons. OPWC is situated in The Hague. Last Friday the UN agreed upon the mission. Rumor has it that Ban Ki-moon wanted Kaag already on Friday to lead the said mission. OPWC OPWC received last week the Nobel prize for Peace. About the disarmament mission in Syria, OPWC leader Ahmet Üzümcü says that the mission can be finished half way 2014. He says, “So far the authorities of Syria have been constructive and cooperative.” In the coming weeks weapon experts will visit the twenty locations where chemical weapons are stored. Mark Rutte in Turkey While on a trip to Turkey last Sunday, Prime Minister Rutte promised the OPWC, manpower, money and logistic help. Rutte was in Turkey, together with head of the armed forces Tom Middendorp. They were visiting the Dutch military stationed in South Turkey. The Dutch troops are there with two units of patriot rockets for protecting the citizens against rockets from the side of Syria.