On 22 April 1915, the first large-scale use of poison gas occurred in Ieper, Belgium. Consequently, thousands of people were killed on this site. The horrific impact of the use of chemicals in warfare is indelibly etched in the memories of all.
On 11 November 2001, the city of Ieper commemorated the 83rd anniversary of the armistice that ended the First World War. Mr John Gee, Deputy Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), together with numerous dignitaries and veterans associations, attended the emotive ceremony. To pay the due respects of the Organisation to the victims of the First World War, Mr Gee placed a wreath at the Menin Gate.
In his statement to those gathered in Ieper, Mr Gee reiterated the mandate of the OPCW to work toward the complete elimination of chemical weapons: “Only four and a half years old, the OPCW is, clearly, a new force on the scene. It does, however, have a mission which is now almost a century old: to eliminate completely the possibility of the use of chemical weapons for the sake of all mankind. Its establishment reflects the international community’s strong and unequivocal support for the total elimination of chemical weapons for all time”. The OPCW is represented at this ceremony in Ieper annually as an expression of its commitment to usher in a world free from the scourge of chemical weapons.
Mr Gee further noted, “The appalling events of last September in the United States are still fresh in our minds. As an international organisation committed to playing its rightful part in furthering the cause of disarmament in the twenty-first century, the OPCW is actively engaged, working closely with the international community, in the global effort to prevent the use of chemical weapons by terrorists.”
The Mayor of Ieper, H.E. Mr Luc Dahaene, in his address, announced the five nominees for the first Peace Prize of the Town of Ieper, to be awarded in 2002. The nominees are: Ngoy Mulunda, from Congo, an individual working for the All African Council of Churches; Mary Robinson, President of Ireland; the OPCW; Seeds of Peace, an organisation that organises peace camps to encourage coexistence between Israeli and Palestinian children; and War Child, an organisation helping children affected by war, particularly child soldiers.
26/2001