H.E. Ambassador Luis Vassy, Permanent Representative of the French Republic to the OPCW, and H.E. Ambassador Fernando Arias, Director-General of the OPCW
THE HAGUE, Netherlands—14 April 2022—Today, the French Republic made a voluntary contribution of €2,200,000 in support of priority activities at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). The contributions were announced during a signing ceremony with H.E. Ambassador Mr Luis Vassy, Permanent Representative of the French Republic to the OPCW, and Ambassador Fernando Arias, Director-General of the OPCW.
Ambassador Vassy stated: “I am particularly honoured to announce this new French voluntary contribution at a time which is a stark reminder of how essential the OPCW’s mandate is. France stands with Ukraine and is fully mobilised to provide it with the means to protect its population in facing the threat of chemical weapons use, pursuant to Article X of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). By investing in the OPCW for the future, we reaffirm our choice of a humanist and feminist diplomacy, resolutely committed to world peace and development. “
From the of €2,200,000 contribution, €1,000,000 will be allocated to the Trust Fund for Syria Missions, which will support activities of the Declarations Assessment Team (DAT) and the Fact-Finding Mission (FFM).
An allocation of €880,000 will be provided to the Trust Fund for Implementation of Article X (assistance and protection against chemical weapons). The funding will be used to provide bilateral assistance activities earmarked towards Ukraine, to strengthen mitigation capacities and preparedness to respond to chemical incidents and attacks in West Africa and to conduct trainings and capacity building activities at the future OPCW ChemTech Centre for French speaking Member States.
The Trust Fund for Training also received two allocations totalling €320,000 that will support non-routine mission training for OPCW staff and the Women in Chemistry Symposium project.
The Director-General remarked: “I am grateful for this substantial voluntary contribution from France. Our work to permanently rid the world of chemical weapon requires not just determination, but also adequate resources. This support will enable the OPCW to move forward with essential projects, helping prepare the Organisation for future challenges.”
Background
France has been an active member of the OPCW since the Chemical Weapons Convention entered into force in 1997. France is a member of the Executive Council, the OPCW’s executive organ, which is charged with promoting the effective implementation of and compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention as well as supervising the activities of the Organisation’s Technical Secretariat.
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 99% 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.