OPCW Director-General, H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, and the President of Poland, Mr Andrzej Duda, meeting at the OPCW Headquarters in The Hague
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — 30 October 2019 — The Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, and the President of Poland, Mr Andrzej Duda, met today at the OPCW Headquarters in The Hague.
The Director-General briefed the President on the progress of the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). Their discussions focused on the OPCW’s efforts to not only ensure the total and permanent elimination of all chemical weapons, but also to promote scientific advances for peaceful purposes. Both sides agreed on the necessity to support capacity-building initiatives and to strive for transparency and cooperation.
President Duda remarked: “I wish to congratulate the Director-General and the OPCW staff on their commitment and dedication in striving for a world free from chemical weapons. Poland will continue to support strongly the OPCW and the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, recognising current and new threats and challenges related to the use and re-emergence of chemical weapons.”
Director-General Arias stated: “Poland has my sincere gratitude for its commitment to the Convention and its continued support for the Organisation, including our new Centre for Chemistry and Technology. We look forward to our continued cooperation to ensure chemical weapons are eliminated and that chemistry is used for exclusively peaceful purposes.”
Following Poland’s €100,000 contribution to the new OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology project last year, the Director-General provided a status update on the project, emphasising its importance in strengthening technological development and fostering peaceful uses of chemistry.
Background
Poland joined the Chemical Weapons Convention in 1995 and has been an active member of the OPCW ever since.
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.
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