Namibian delegation visits OPCW headquarters to discuss full chemical weapons convention implementation

A delegation of Namibian representatives recently visited the headquarters of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to discuss various initiatives related to the full implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).

The delegation included members of the Namibian Parliament; Parliament Secretary Leevi Katoma; senior members of Namibia’s Ministry of Industrialization, Trade and SME Development; and senior members from its Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation.

The delegation met with OPCW Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü to discuss its progress in destroying its chemical weapons stockpiles and efforts to universalize the CWC. In addition, Üzümcü provided an update of the organization’s investigation into the recent chemical weapons attack in southern Idlib, Syria.

Üzümcü emphasized the importance of utilizing the country’s legislative branch for effective national implementation of the CWC and encouraged officials to reinforce the convention’s role as the international authority on chemical weapons disposal.

After a series of meeting with senior OPCW officials, the Namibian delegation was escorted to the organization’s laboratory in Rijswijk to gain a better understating of the convention and provide an opportunity to review an action plan for CWC draft legislation.

OPCW serves as the implementing body of the Chemical Weapons Convention. Entered into force in 1997, the convention represents the most-successful disarmament treaty in history targeting an entire class of weapons. To date, approximately 95 percent of all chemical weapons stockpiles declares by OPCW’s 192 member states have been destroyed under the organization’s verification.