Türkiye’s United Nations envoy called on the international community on Thursday to maintain strong support for the elimination of Syria’s remaining chemical weapons, stressing that the task is both a legal obligation and a critical priority for regional security and humanitarian protection.
In a UN Security Council session, Ahmet Yildiz welcomed steps taken by Syria’s new authorities, noting that Syrians last month marked the first anniversary of their December 2024 liberation “with a sense of hope and optimism.” He acknowledged the Syrian government’s commitment to stability, governance, and citizens’ well-being.
“Much remains to be accomplished,” Yildiz said, emphasising that eliminating chemical weapons capabilities is a legal requirement under the Chemical Weapons Convention and a vital security and humanitarian imperative. He added that the Syrian government cannot complete the task alone due to the technical, operational, and financial complexities involved.
Yildiz urged the international community to seize an “historic opportunity” to provide long-term, sustained support, adding that Türkiye is ready to continue its assistance alongside the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
Addressing regional tensions, Yildiz warned that Israel’s airstrikes and hybrid military operations in Syria have damaged former chemical weapons sites, endangered civilians, and disrupted OPCW missions. He called on the international community to ensure such actions are restrained.
Chemical weapons use in Syria dates back to at least August 2013, when sarin gas attacks on Ghouta killed more than 1,400 people. Syria joined the OPCW later that year. Subsequent confirmed attacks in Al-Lataminah (2017) and Idlib (2018) led to partial suspension of Syria’s membership rights.
Since the departure of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, following nearly 25 years in power, Syria has been under new leadership, with President Ahmed al-Sharaa meeting OPCW officials in February 2025 to advance disarmament efforts.
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In a sweeping diplomatic push in Baku, Georgia and Azerbaijan have signed a landmark package of energy and transport agreements, cementing a partnership set to shape the South Caucasus corridor for decades to come.
The first-ever “WUF13 NGO Forum” in the history of the World Urban Forum (WUF) was held on 19 May 2026 at Azerbaijan’s initiative in Baku.
Germany will deploy a Patriot air-defence battery to Türkiye in the coming weeks as part of a NATO mission aimed at strengthening the alliance’s south-eastern flank, German officials have said.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called for closer security coordination between Central Asia and China, warning that expanding trade and infrastructure links are exposing the region to increasingly sophisticated cross-border threats.
The World Urban Forum (WUF13) continues in Baku, Azerbaijan on 18 May, addressing the global housing crisis. The day’s agenda includes the official opening press conference, the WUF13 Urban Expo opening and a ministerial dialogue on the Nairobi Declaration to advance Africa's urban agenda.
United Nations World Urban Forum 13 continues in Baku, Azerbaijan on 19 May with sessions and roundtable discussions focused on strengthening dialogue and advancing cooperation in urban development. Organisers say there are nearly 3 billion people globally who face some form of housing inadequacy.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he had paused a planned attack on Iran after appeals from the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, allowing negotiations to continue over a possible deal to end the conflict.
A 5.2 magnitude earthquake struck China’s Guangxi region early on Monday, killing two people and forcing more than 7,000 residents in Liuzhou to evacuate as rescue efforts continued.
Azerbaijan and Georgia have agreed to resume daily passenger train services on the Baku-Tbilisi-Baku route from 26 May, 2026, marking a major step in restoring regional rail connectivity after services were suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Germany will deploy a Patriot air-defence battery to Türkiye in the coming weeks as part of a NATO mission aimed at strengthening the alliance’s south-eastern flank, German officials have said.
Estonia said on Tuesday (19 May) that a NATO fighter jet shot down a suspected Ukrainian drone over its territory, in the latest reported airspace violation in the region amid ongoing Ukrainian strikes against Russia.
Sweden has agreed to buy four naval frigates from France’s Naval Group in a deal worth more than $4 billion, as Stockholm moves to strengthen its defence capabilities in the Baltic Sea, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Tuesday.
Spanish police said on Tuesday they had detained a 25-year-old man suspected of killing his two parents and injuring four other people, including his son, in a shooting in the southern city of El Ejido in Almeria province overnight.
European Union negotiators are expected to agree on Tuesday (19 May) on legislation removing import duties on U.S. industrial goods, in a move aimed at implementing last year’s trade agreement with the United States and avoiding higher tariffs threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump.
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