Friday, November 15, 2013

Albania's refusal to destroy chemical stockpile

Destroying Syria's Chemical Weapons. Albania, a staunch US ally and NATO  member has rejected a US request to host the destruction of Syria's chemical weapons, saying it was ill-equipped to handle the disposal of thousands of tonnes of toxic waste.

The announcement is a great setback for a Russian-American plan to get rid of Syria's Sarin and other nerve agents .

Syria in September has agreed to destroy its entire chemical weapons stockpile in a deal brokered by Russia and the United States, after Washington threatened to use force in response to a Sarin gas attack that killed hundreds of people in Damascus on August 21.

Most chemical materials were to be removed from Syria in just six weeks, or by December 31, and for remaining chemical weapons facilities to be destroyed by March 2014.

Albania ( Capital Tirana ) is located in South Eastern Europe.Albania has experience of destroying  its own small arsenal of chemical weapons in 2007, but the new PM Edi Rama, is not wanting to take a political risk, as there are protest against destroying chemical stockpile,which will hae to be carried to Albania and then treated suitably for which very extensive facilities need to be built.

Getting rid of 1,300 metric tons of Syria's sarin, mustard and other agents would be no easy job for  the Adriatic republic !



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