H.E. Mr René Miko, Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the OPCW, and Ambassador Fernando Arias, Director-General of the OPCW
THE HAGUE, Netherlands—20 December 2023— The Government of the Czech Republic has voluntarily contributed €10,197.87 to the Trust Fund for the Implementation of Article X of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). The contribution is earmarked for OPCW assistance and protection activities related to Ukraine.
The contribution was formalised on 19 December 2023 in a signing ceremony held between the Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the OPCW, H.E. Mr René Miko, and the OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Fernando Arias, at the OPCW’s Headquarters in The Hague.
“Czechia’s contribution to the OPCW Trust Fund for Implementation of Article X demonstrates steadfast commitment to support the OPCW and the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention. This additional financial support to Ukraine will enhance its preparedness and response capacities in the event of a chemical incident,” said Ambassador Miko.
“Czechia welcomes the OPCW’s continued monitoring of the situation in Ukraine and assistance and protection trainings provided to Ukrainian authorities in the face of unjustified and unprovoked aggression by Russia against Ukraine,” he added.
OPCW Director-General underscored: “I would like to thank the Czech Republic for its continuous commitment to the OPCW’s assistance and protection activities. Ensuring that Member States have the capabilities to protect their populations in the case of a chemical emergency is a critical factor for the effective implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention.”
Background
The Czech Republic has been an active member of the OPCW since the Chemical Weapons Convention entered into force in 1997.
To date, the Czech Republic has contributed a total of €608,035 to several OPCW trust funds, including the Trust Fund for a Centre for Chemistry and Technology, the Trust Fund for Syria Missions, the Trust Fund for the Implementation of Article X.
Under Article X of the Chemical Weapons Convention, 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.
On 7 July 2023, the OPCW verified that all chemical weapons stockpiles declared by the 193 States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention since 1997 — totalling 72,304 metric tonnes of chemical agents — have been irreversibly destroyed under the OPCW’s strict verification regime.
For its extensive efforts in eliminating chemical weapons, the OPCW received the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize.