Chinese frigate joins syrian chemicials removal mission

PKG

pINTRO

A Chinese navy frigate arrived in the Cypriot port of Limassol on Saturday.

It's the start of its mission to provide security support to the operation for removing Syria's chemical weapons.

PKG

The Chinese Ambassador to Cyprus Liu Xinsheng said Yancheng's arrival in Cyprus showed the Chinese government's support to the effort of the United Nations and Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, or OPCW.

Cypriot Defense Minister Fotis Fotiou said the government of Cyprus will support and give all facilities to all countries involved in the operation.

SOUNDBITE: FOTIS FOTIOU, Cypriot Defense Minister

"First of all I would like to welcome again the first Chinese ship in Cyprus. I hope we are going to have similar ships from China in Cyprus. As far as the operation for the destruction of the Syrian chemical weapons, from the first time, the government of Cyprus was very clear we will be ready to support and give all facilities to all countries and United Nations involved in this operation. I hope that operation will finish successfully very soon."

In accordance with the decision of the OPCW on the removal of Syrian chemical weapons and the UN Security Council Resolution 2118 in September 2013, the chemical weapons will be transported out of Syria and be delivered to an American vessel for destruction.

Vessels from China, Russia, Denmark and Norway will escort the transportation of the chemical weapons.