OPCW holds talks with Russian foreign minister on Chemical Weapons Convention implementation

Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Director General Ahmet Üzümcü met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday to discuss a wide variety of issues pertaining to chemical weapons.

One of the main topics for discussion was the Russian Federation’s implementation of the chemical weapons convention, which outlaws the production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons and their precursors. Lavrov said that the Russian Federation has already destroyed more than 93 percent of its chemical weapons stockpile.

“The Russian Federation considers the chemical weapons convention to be one of the most effective mechanisms in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation,” Lavrov said.

Üzümcü said that he would also be meeting with officials from Russia’s Federation Council and the Duma to further discuss the destruction of the remaining seven percent of Russia’s chemical weapons.

The two officials also discussed the elimination of the Syrian Arab Republic’s chemical weapons program and increasing concerns about the use of chemical weapons by non-state forces.

“I hope that the Syrian Arab Republic will take this vital opportunity to shore up confidence with the international community in light of the steps already taken to eliminate the chemical weapons program,” Üzümcü said.