OPCW leader says efforts must focus on preventing re-emergence of chemical weapons

The head of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) discussed the growing threat of chemical terrorism and the challenges of permanently eliminating chemical weapons during a visit to Poland this week.

OPCW Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü met with Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Witold Waszczykowski and other officials to discuss Poland’s involvement and support for the Chemical Weapons Convention as well.

Üzümcü highlighted achievements in chemical weapons destruction, but also warned against the growing use of toxic chemicals as weapons, as seen with recently confirmed cases in Syria and Iraq.

He said that those challenges have forced the OPCW to re-focus its work, so that “in the future [the OPCW] will seek to prevent the re-emergence of chemical weapons, as opposed to focusing on the destruction of declared stockpiles, which has almost been accomplished.”

Üzümcü said prevention of chemical weapons use involves ensuring the effective implementation of the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention,  keeping up to date with advances in science, and conducting education and outreach initiatives.

Poland’s support of OPCW activities included a voluntary contribution to the Syria Trust Fund for the Destruction of Chemical Weapons in 2013. Poland also supports chemical weapons’ disarmament by sponsoring the United Nations General Assembly’s Resolution on the Implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention each year.

OPCW is the implementing body for the Chemical Weapons Convention, which prohibits the use, development, production, storage and transfer of chemical weapons. The disarmament treaty is supported by 192 countries.