Poland’s Foreign Minister Visits OPCW
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — 31 October 2017 — The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, H.E. Mr. Witold Waszczykowski, met with the Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü during a visit today to OPCW Headquarters in The Hague.
The Director-General and the Foreign Minister discussed issues related to the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), OPCW activities in Syria, the UN General Assembly resolution on CWC implementation sponsored by Poland, and efforts to counter the threat of non-State actor use of chemical weapons.
The Director-General expressed his gratitude for Poland’s strong support of advancing the goals of the CWC: “Poland’s leadership in the adoption of a Chemical Weapons Convention Resolution at the UN General Assembly every year is essential for reaffirming the goals of the Convention and highlighting the concrete achievements of the OPCW.” He commended Poland for bringing greater attention to the importance of the CWC as part of efforts to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the entry-into-force of the Convention.
Foreign Minister Waszczykowski highlighted the importance of the CWC and stated, “The OPCW’s efforts stand behind the success of this most prolific of all disarmament treaties of our times”.
The Director-General thanked the Foreign Minister for Poland’s continuing support for the OPCW.
Background
Poland joined the Chemical Weapons Convention in 1995 and is a current member of the OPCW’s Executive Council.
Dr Maciej Śliwakowski, from Poland, is the Head the Analytical Department at the Institute of Industrial Organic Chemistry in Warsaw and a member of the OPCW’s Scientific Advisory Board.
As the implementing body for the Chemical Weapons Convention, the OPCW oversees the global endeavour to permanently eliminate chemical weapons. Since the Convention’s entry into force in 1997 – with its 192 States Parties – it is the most successful disarmament treaty eliminating an entire class of weapons of mass destruction.
Over 96 per cent of all chemical weapon stockpiles declared by possessor States have been destroyed under OPCW verification. For its extensive efforts in eliminating chemical weapons, the OPCW received the 2013 Nobel Prize for Peace.