The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), a forum of 120 countries that are not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc, has underscored that the existence and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction continue to pose a significant threat to international peace and security.
The 105th Executive Council of the States Parties of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) kicked off 5th March 2024 at the Hague, Netherlands, with an Opening statement by the Director-General H.E. Fernando Arias.
The Executive Council consists of 41 OPCW Member States that are elected by the Conference of the States Parties and rotate every two years. The Council supervises the activities of the Technical Secretariat and is responsible for promoting the effective implementation of and compliance with the Convention.
Charge D’Affaires a.i. of Uganda, Brussels, Amb. Beatrice Pacunega Manano, delivered a strong statement on behalf of the members of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) which are States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention and China at the OPCW Headquarters in the Hague.
Amb. Manano said that the NAM CWC States Parties and China continue to underscore the importance for the OPCW and all States Parties to continue to ensure the full, effective and non-discriminatory implementation of all provisions of the Convention including the economic and technological development of the States Parties, especially in the fields of International Cooperation and Assistance.
She expressed regret by the NAM CWC and China that ever since the creation of a Coordination Mechanism to revitalize existing facilitations, no meeting of this Mechanism had been convened.
“We reiterate our call on the Chairperson of the Executive Council, in his role as head of this Mechanism, to redouble efforts aimed at advancing the full and effective implementation of all provisions of the CWC in a balanced and non-discriminatory manner and to explore ways and means for the revitalization of all facilitations, in line with the position paper of the NAM CWC States Parties and China dated 4 October 2019”, she said.
Regarding disarmament, Amb. Manano said that the NAM CWC States Parties and China reiterated their long-standing principled position toward the achievement of general and complete disarmament, under strict and effective international control, including the prohibition and elimination of all weapons of mass destruction.
In this regard, the NAM underscored that the existence and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction continue to pose a significant threat to international peace and security.
“We further underline that full, effective and non-discriminatory implementation of the Convention contributes to regional and international peace and security”, said Manano.
Regarding the war in Gaza, she emphasized that the Israeli occupation’s actions are prohibited under international law and require vigilance by international organizations, including the OPCW.
“The use of chemical weapons anywhere by anyone under any circumstances is unacceptable. Accordingly, we request the technical secretariat to take on its duty and monitor the situation in Palestine including any threats or actual use by Israel, of toxic chemicals.”
In the NAM Statement, Amb. Manano said that the NAM CWC and China request that the OPCW investigate any possible use of chemical weapons in Israel’s aggression against the Palestinian people in Gaza.
Furthermore, the Technical Secretariat should remain prepared to take appropriate measures by the Convention if deemed necessary and to undertake a prompt and effective response to investigate and react to such incidents in the future.
The 105th session will adjourn on 8th March 2024.