UN staff on the way to a place where there should have been an attack with chemical weapons. Norway has been asked to destroy chemical weapons from Syria. Photo: Reuters
Foreign Ministry says it is the new government to decide whether Norway should help the UN to destroy Syria’s chemical weapons or not.
5 October it was announced that Russia and the United States has asked Norway to destroy chemical weapons from Syria.
NTB reported Friday that Norway will support the UN in its efforts to destroy Syria’s chemical weapons.
– No decision
Opposite VG rejects Foreign Ministry that they have decided .
– It is the new government to take the decision Norway to assist the UN to destroy Syria’s chemical weapons. We want to help , but it’s not made any decision. It must be the new government do, says communications manager Ragnhild Imerslund Foreign Ministry told VG .
On Friday, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons ( OPCW ) Peace Prize , which makes the issue even more relevant.
Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg ( Labour) confirmed last week that there is a concrete dialogue on Norway to undertake this task , but the decision must rest with the incoming government.
It is believed that Syria has about 1,000 tons of chemical weapons and that they contain large amounts of nerve gas and mustard gas.
– Most countries have the capacity to deal with chemical warfare agents . In Norway we also have such a capacity , including a private school in NBC protection . There are therefore both military and civilian expertise to handle hazardous chemicals . But after the Cold War , there has been little focus on chemical weapons here in Norway, Capt. Per Christian Gundersen previously told VG.
http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=10144025
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