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Mon, 30 Dec, 2013 04:06:42 AM FTimes-STT Report, December 30  File picture of an image grab taken from Syrian television on October 19, 2013 shows an inspectors from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) at work at an undisclosed location in Syria. Chemical inspectors have checked 14 out of more than 20 sites in Syria, the world's chemical weapons watchdog said October 18, 2013, as a top UN official appointed to lead the mission headed for The Hague. Photo - AFP / Lehtikuva. The Finnish soldiers, who left the country for participating in the destruction of Syria's chemical weapons by safeguarding maritime transportation of the weapons out of Syria, remained standby in Cyprus on Sunday and are waiting for command to move into Syria.
"When the command comes, the joint Nordic naval task force will be ready to go within hours," said Major Mikko Illi in Cyprus.
The United Nations announced on Saturday that the mission will be delayed, but according to Major Illi their departure can still take place soon.
The soldiers who are tasked with safe transportation of the chemical weapon containers to the cargo ships have been busy practicing while waiting for the command.
In case of chemical spills the soldiers are to help with evacuation and prevention of further spills.
The contingent is comprised of a Danish frigate in which eight Finnish soldiers are participating. A Norwegian frigate and two cargo vessels are also participating in the programme together.
Finland's participation in the operation came after approval by the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy on December 11.
Earlier, the foreign affairs ministry in mid-November communicated with Ekokem, a Finnish company that deals with dangerous waste handling, and asked the company authority whether it had the technical capacity to handle the wastes of the destroyed chemical weapon.
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