Pakistan re-elected to OPCW’s executive council

Re-election testimony to Islamabad's commitment and contribution to strengthening OPCW’s role: Foreign Office

News Desk November 29, 2019

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Pakistan has been re-elected as member Executive Council of Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) for another two-year term (2020-2021), the Foreign Office said on Friday.

Pakistan’s candidature was endorsed by the Conference of States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which was held in The Hague from November 25-29, 2019, Office of the Spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

“Pakistan was one of the original signatories of the CWC and has made consistent efforts to promote the objectives and purposes of the Convention,” it said.

Pakistan has been an active member of the OPCW and has served as a member of the OPCW Executive Council since 1997.

“Pakistan regularly holds international training and capacity-building events for experts from around the world on various technical aspects on the implementation of the CWC,” the communiqué read.

“Pakistan also regularly conducts basic and advanced regional and international assistance and protection courses at its Chemical Weapons Convention Regional Assistance and Protection Centre, which was formally inaugurated by the Director General of the OPCW in 2015.”

The Foreign Office said Pakistan has also contributed to the implementation of the CWC through the provision of staff, inspectors and technical experts to the OPCW, and has established an OPCW designated laboratory.

It said that Islamabad has been regularly hosting OPCW routine inspections to its declared chemical industries.

“The OPCW has been expressing satisfaction and appreciation of Pakistan’s full compliance with its obligations pursuant to the CWC,” the statement read.

“Pakistan’s re-election to the Executive Council is a testimony to its commitment and contribution to strengthening the role of the OPCW and in promoting the goals of international peace and security through chemical weapons disarmament and non-proliferation.”