The German government on Monday admitted it had approved the export of chemicals to Syria that could be weaponized. In addition, the government said that the quantities off chemicals were greater than previously estimated.
AFP reports that as much as 360 tons of chemicals for military and civilian use were exported between 1998 and 2011. The shipments were stopped in March 2011 immediately after sanctions prohibiting the exports of chemical weapons to Syria were imposed.
The so called “dual-use” chemicals can be used for the development of chemical weapons. They can also be used for more benign purposes such as the surface treatment of metals, fluorination of drinking water and the manufacture of toothpaste.
Syria has been the focus on international attention since a chemical attack on August 21. The United States claims that more than 1,400 people died in the attack.
The announcement was made a few days after the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution that ordered the destruction of Assad’s banned chemical arms.
