H.E. Mr Jaime Moscoso Valenzuela, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Chile to the OPCW, and Ambassador Fernando Arias, Director-General of the OPCW
THE HAGUE, Netherlands—7 September 2022—The Government of the Republic of Chile has contributed €9,000 to support the implementation of Article X of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
The financial support to the Trust Fund for the Implementation of Article X will be used to enhance assistance and protection capacity-building programmes. The voluntary contribution was formalised on 2 September 2022 by the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Chile to the OPCW, H.E. Mr Jaime Moscoso Valenzuela, and OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Fernando Arias, at the Organisation’s headquarters in The Hague.
Ambassador Moscoso stated: “Chile is a longstanding supporter of the OPCW and its work to achieve a world free of chemical weapons. For Chile, it is an honour to make a contribution to the Trust Fund as a sign of its unwavering support to the OPCW”.
OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Arias, underscored: “I am highly grateful for the support of the Government of Chile. The contribution will help the work of the OPCW to enhance Member States’ capacities to protect their populations from chemical incidents and emergencies.”
Background
Chile has been an active member of the OPCW since the Chemical Weapons Convention entered into force in 1997. Chile 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.
Under Article X of the CWC, Member States “have the right to participate in, the fullest possible exchange of equipment, material and scientific and technological information concerning means of protection against chemical weapons.”
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.
More Information
- Chile at the OPCW
- Article X of the CWC – Assistance and Protection Against Chemical Weapons
- Ensuring Preparedness
- OPCW Basics: How does the OPCW help prepare for and respond to a chemical attack?
- Photos from the ceremony