Syrian Chemical Arsenal Due for Italian Port Ship-to-Ship Transfer

The transfer of some 500 tons of Syria's chemical agents to the US special purpose vessel 'MV Cape Ray' will take place in the port of Gioia Tauro, reports Xinhua, citing a hearing before the Italian parliamentary commissions of foreign affairs and defence.

The Syrian chemical arsenal aboard the Danish cargo vessel will be directly transfered to the U.S. ship MV Cape Ray through 60 containers and special equipment, and citing Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Maurizio Lupi, Xinhua says that none of the containers would be brought to rest on the docks, as it will be a ship-to-ship transfer, and storage is not required.

The operation is part of responses to the decision made by the UN Security Council and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) which ruled that Syria's chemical weapons will be transported outside its territory to ensure their destruction in the safest manner and as soon as possible, with a deadline of June 30, 2014.

The transfer is expected to take place between end of January and beginning of February, local media reported.

Source: Xinhua local correspondent Alessandra Cardone