THE HAGUE, Netherlands – Syria has sent the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons an “initial declaration” outlining its weapons program, the organization said Friday, in keeping with the agreement Russia and the U.S. brokered to have Syria give up its chemical weapons arsenal.

Michael Luhan, the organization’s spokesman, told The Associated Press the declaration is “being reviewed by our verification division,” but details of it will not be released.

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said the United States and other nations that have joined the chemical weapons organization “will be making a careful and thorough review of the initial document.”

The organization, based in The Hague, polices a global treaty known as the Chemical Weapons Convention of 1993, which bars the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical arms. The organization relies on a global network of more than a dozen top laboratories to analyze field samples.

 


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