The Republic of Cyprus and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) jointly convened the Second Regional Workshop on the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in Nicosia , Cyprus from 13 to 15 June 2005 . The workshop promotes the widest possible adherence to the CWC by increasing awareness among States in the Mediterranean Basin , the Middle East , and neighbouring regions of the problems commonly encountered in seeking to achieve full and uniform compliance with the Convention’s obligations, as well providing information on practical measures to help reach this goal. The workshop benefits from the support of the European Union joint action on support for the OPCW’s activities.
The Workshop brings together representatives of t wenty-three States Parties, as well as representatives of seven States that have not ratified or acceded to the CWC, including Comoros, Djibouti, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, and Syria. The European Union, the League of Arab States, and the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs are also represented in the meeting.
The Mediterranean Basin and the Middle East regions are the focus of this Workshop as a number of countries in these regions have not yet joined the CWC. States Parties to the CWC pledge to ensure the total elimination of chemical weapons and to prevent their proliferation. The risk of the acquisition and use of weapons of mass destruction by non-state actors calls for a cooperative, global response by all States to join this treaty.
In his opening statement to the Workshop, OPCW Director-General Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter highlighted the “successful record of the Chemical Weapons Convention and its operative institution, the OPCW”, underscoring that the CWC is the “sole functioning disarmament treaty in force”. He asserted that universal adherence to the Convention would present a tangible, realistic and achievable opportunity to lay the building block towards the total elimination of weapons of mass destruction in the region.
Director-General Pfirter expressed satisfaction at seeing an increasing interest in discussing the prohibition of chemical weapons in the Middle East framework, especially from countries from the region. He welcomed the presence of all States not party to the Convention from the Middle East and was confident that, as a result of continuing dialogue, prospects for accession to the chemical weapons ban will improve.
Director-General Pfirter thanked the Government of Cyprus for its invaluable support and the exemplary cooperation extended to the OPCW through its generous provision of facilities for this Workshop.
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