H.E. Mr Rahman Mustafayev, Permanent Representative of Azerbaijan to the OPCW, and Ambassador Fernando Arias, Director-General of the OPCW
THE HAGUE, Netherlands—22 January 2024—The Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan has voluntarily contributed €20,000 to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Trust Fund for Training.
The full amount will be allocated to the Trust Fund for Training and will be used to enhance a range of training activities at the OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology (ChemTech Centre). This funding will prioritise activities that support scientific research and capacity building activities.
The voluntary contribution was formalised on 18 January 2024 in a signing ceremony held between the Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the OPCW, H.E. Mr. Rahman Mustafayev, and the OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Fernando Arias, at the OPCW’s Headquarters in The Hague.
“The Republic of Azerbaijan is pleased to make voluntary contributions this year to support the new programmes and training activities carried out in the ChemTech Centre,” said Ambassador Rahman Mustafayev.
“The establishment of the ChemTech Centre is a noteworthy achievement for the OPCW and its Member States. It will strengthen capabilities in various crucial areas concerning the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, including verification, international cooperation, and assistance. Through further investment in the ChemTech Centre we aim to enhance our dedication to promoting global peace and security.” he added. Ambassador Mustafayev also underlined the fact that Azerbaijan remains committed to achieving effective progress towards general and complete chemical disarmament by the Chemical Weapons Convention and the purposes of the OPCW.
The Director-General stated: “I express my sincere appreciation to Azerbaijan for its support to these important projects. Through trainings delivered at the ChemTech Centre, we enhance expertise in Member States in countering the threat of chemical weapons use. We thank Azerbaijan for its ongoing contributions to support the Organisation’s critical work to build capacity and the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention.”
Background
Azerbaijan has been an active member of the OPCW since 2000.
To date, Azerbaijan has contributed a total of €30,000 to the OPCW Trust Fund for Training.
The OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology (ChemTech Centre), which was inaugurated on 12 May 2023, enhances the OPCW’s ability to conduct chemical research and analysis. This significantly reinforces the Organisation’s verification regime and inspection capabilities of chemical industries around the world. In addition, an increasing number of capacity building activities are being delivered through the Centre, including chemical emergency response trainings and analytical skills development courses for experts from Member States.
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.