THE HAGUE, Netherlands —3 December 2019 — The Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of the Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Ambassador Fernando Arias, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Palestine, H.E. Dr Riyad al-Maliki, during a visit today to OPCW Headquarters in The Hague.
The Director-General and Minister of Foreign Affairs discussed OPCW’s progress in the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), with a special focus on the activities related to international cooperation, national implementation, as well as assistance and protection.
With the recent accession of the State of Palestine to the CWC, the Director-General expressed his hope for the full and timely domestic implementation of the provisions of the Convention.
Background
The State of Palestine joined the Chemical Weapons Convention in June 2018.
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 193 States Parties – 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.