(VOVworld)-A June 30 deadline for the destruction of Syria's chemical arsenal remains "completely realistic" despite delays in shipping out the weapons.

Mikhail Ulyanov, head of the Foreign Ministry's security and disarmament department,

Mikhail Ulyanov, head of the Foreign Ministry's security and disarmament department, blamed the delays on security problems on the road to the port of Latakia and insufficient technical support from the international community.

The international operation to dispose of Syria's chemical stockpile is six to eight weeks behind schedule and next week's deadline for sending all toxic agents abroad for destruction will be missed. He said that the main reason for the delay "is linked to the unfavorable security situation on the route for transporting chemical weapons components to Latakia, the port from which they are being removed from Syria and adding that the Syrians are complaining about insufficient material and technical support from the international community. However, he said that "as before, the final deadline for completing the destruction of Syria's chemical weapons - June 30 of this year - seems completely realistic”.