The Hague, 19 November 2021 (TDI): Saudi Arabia has contributed €50,000 to a special Trust Fund of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). It will support the construction and operation of the OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology.
The Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to the OPCW, Ambassador Ziad M.D. Al Atiyah formalised yesterday the contributions during a ceremony. Moreover, the Ambassador stated that the country will give €50,000 to enhance international cooperation.
Saudi Arabia’s Chemical Weapons Policy
In his remarks, he pointed out that “this contribution is a symbol of the Kingdom’s consistent policy and desire to strengthen cooperation as part of the efforts to prohibit chemical weapons and weapons of mass destruction and prevent their proliferation, and to enhance international peace and security, in compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention”.
In this context, the new Centre will be a key bridge to achieve technology transfer and technical assistance to the States Parties. Therefore, it is a starting point for science and knowledge in the field of chemistry.
From his part, the OPCW Director-General expressed: “The Government of Saudi Arabia has my sincere gratitude for its contribution which brings us closer to realising this important project”. In that sense, the Centre will strengthen the OPCW’s scientific and technological capability.
About the OPCW and the ChemTech Centre
The ChemTech Centre seeks to strengthen the OPCW’s capabilities to tackle emerging chemical weapons threats. The project will also support capacity building in the OPCW Member States. According to the organization, the construction of the ChemTech Centre is planned to be finished by the end of 2022.
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. It eliminates an entire class of weapons of mass destruction.
According to stats, 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.
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