PR02: Six More Member States of the OPCW Have Paid Their Contributions to its 2001 Budget

The Hague, 25 January 2001			Number 02

Press Release

Six More Member States of the OPCW Have Paid Their Contributions to its 2001 Budget

As of today, Estonia, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, and Switzerland have paid in full their financial contributions to the budget of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) for the current financial year.

Member State	Amount Paid (EUR)	Date of Payment
New Zealand*	121,272	15 December 2000
Estonia	6,588	17 January 2001
Norway	334,733	19 January 2001
Switzerland	666,722	19 January 2001
The Netherlands	895,549	24 January 2001
Nigeria	20,296	24 January 2001

* Paid 17 days before the deadline of 1 January 2001.

The Director‑General of the OPCW, Mr José M. Bustani, expressed his appreciation to the above‑mentioned Member States for their payments, and urged the significant number of Member States which have not yet paid to follow suit as soon as possible. With these additions, 34 Member States have now paid their 2001 assessments in full.

The timely payment by Member States of their annual contributions is essential for the effective functioning of the OPCW, which is tasked, inter alia, with verifying the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention.

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) came into existence on 29 April 1997. Its deed of foundation—the Chemical Weapons Convention—aims to achieve four principal objectives: the elimination of chemical weapons and of the capacity to develop them, the verification of non-proliferation, international assistance and protection in the event of the use or threat of use of chemical weapons, and international cooperation and assistance in the peaceful use of chemistry.

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