OPCW, UN endorse urgent action to destroy Libya’s remaining chemical weapons

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) recently adopted a decision that calls for the necessary international assistance in response to a request from the Libyan Government of National Accord to destroy its remaining Category 2 chemical weapons on an expedited basis outside of the country.

The decision was endorsed on Friday by the United Nations Security Council, which authorized urgent action. The UN Security Council and the OPCW Executive Council recognized the extraordinary security and environmental challenges associated with the chemicals, which can be used by industry. Removing and verifying the destruction of the pre-cursors for chemical weapons will keep them from falling into the hands of non-state actors.

“We will work with Libya and those countries able to provide support to ensure that this threat has been permanently eliminated,” OPCW Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü said in warmly welcoming the decision.

Assistance between contributing countries supporting the timely destruction of Libya’s remaining chemical weapons will be facilitated and coordinated by the OPCW.

The OPCW secretariat will now assist Libya in developing a plan for the destruction of its remaining Category 2 chemicals and to recommend additional measures for the safe and expeditious transport, storage and disposal of the chemicals.