The first stage of destruction of Syria's chemical weapons stockpile has been completed a day ahead of the deadline.
Inspectors from the international chemical weapons watchdog the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has inspected most of the country's declared production sites, and made sure no more weapons can be produced.
But an estimated stockpile of more than 1000 tonnes of toxic agents and weapons is still to be destroyed.
Syria's deputy foreign minister Faisal Mekdad, says he hopes the process so far will help people change their minds about his government.
"I hope that those who have always thought of us negatively will change their mind and understand that Syria was, is and will be always, a constructive partner in international affairs."
Now that the equipment has been put beyond use, Syria has until the middle of next year to destroy the chemical weapons themselves.
Head of OPCW's operations in Syria Jerry Smith says meeting the dealine was a challenge, but it was successful.
"We have personally observed all the destruction activities, and they are not now in a position to conduct any further production or mixing of chemical weapons as far as they're disclosed capability is concerned."
