THE HAGUE, Netherlands — 12 September 2019 — The Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, and the Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights of the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Ms Martha Delgado Peralta, met today at OPCW headquarters in The Hague.
The Director-General and the Undersecretary reviewed progress in the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), and emphasised the need for robust preparedness against chemical emergencies through capacity building initiatives and increased bilateral and regional cooperation.
Director-General Arias remarked: “Mexico’s support for the CWC is an essential element in the global peace and security architecture based on multilateralism and consensus building, and constitutes a notable contribution to achieving our common vision of a world free of chemical weapons.”
Undersecretary Delgado expressed: “Mexico has a foreign policy rooted in a long tradition of multilateralism and respect for international law and will continue to support the important mission of the OPCW. Mexico considers that the best way to contribute to maintaining international peace and security is promoting the economic development of all countries, which includes the development of their chemical industries through international cooperation in its broadest sense.”
Both sides reaffirmed the importance of safeguarding the environment while undertaking activities falling within the scope of the CWC.
Background
Mexico joined the Chemical Weapons Convention in 1997 and has been an active supporter of OPCW’s activities throughout the years.
As the implementing body for the Chemical Weapons Convention, the OPCW, with its 193 Member States, oversees the global endeavour to permanently eliminate chemical weapons. Since the Convention’s entry into force in 1997, it is the most successful disarmament treaty eliminating an entire class of weapons of mass destruction.
Over 97% 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 Peace Prize.