H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, Director-General of the OPCW, and H.E. Mr Kevin Kelly, Permanent Representative of Ireland to the OPCW
THE HAGUE, Netherlands–8 June 2021–The Government of Ireland is contributing €100,000 toward supporting the activities of the Trust Fund for Syria Missions at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
The Fund supports the Organisation’s missions and contingency operations specifically related to the Syrian Arab Republic. Ireland’s contribution aims to assist in full elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme and clarification of facts related to the alleged use of chemical weapons, in accordance with the Chemical Weapons Convention and relevant decisions of the policy-making organs of the OPCW.
The voluntary contribution was formalised on 7 June by the Permanent Representative of Ireland to the OPCW, H.E. Ambassador Kevin Kelly, and OPCW Director-General, H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, at the Organisation’s headquarters in The Hague.
Ambassador Kelly remarked: “Ireland is pleased to make this voluntary contribution to the OPCW Trust Fund for Syria. This contribution serves to demonstrate Ireland’s unwavering support for the Organisation’s efforts towards eliminating the menace of chemical weapons in Syria. Through this contribution, Ireland seeks to follow up our repeated calls for accountability for Syrian victims with practical assistance towards the delivery of that goal.”
The Director-General noted: “I am grateful to the Government of Ireland for its assistance in maintaining OPCW’s critical mission in Syria. The international community has a shared responsibility to bring to light all facts related to the existence and use of chemical weapons in that country.”
Background
Ireland has been an active member of the OPCW since the Chemical Weapons Convention entered into force in 1997.
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 98% of all declared chemical weapon stockpiles have been destroyed under OPCW verification. For its extensive efforts in eliminating chemical weapons, the OPCW received the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize.