PR40: Gabon and the Republic of Korea Pay Their Assessed Contributions to the OPCW 2002 Budget

The Hague, 31 May 2002			Number 40

Press Release

Gabon and the Republic of Korea Pay Their Assessed Contributions to the OPCW 2002 Budget

Gabon and the Republic of Korea have paid in full their annual assessed contributions to the 2002 budget of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

71 of the 145 Member States of the Organisation have now paid their contributions in full. The total amount of the fully and partially paid contributions to the 2002 OPCW budget equals 68.6% of the total amount assessed to the Member States in 2002.

The contributions of Gabon and the Republic of Korea and the contributions of the other 69 Member States, which have paid their assessments in full, are greatly appreciated.

Timely and complete payment of the assessed contribution is an obligation of each State Party to the Chemical Weapons Convention. These contributions are essential to ensure the effective implementation of the Convention. Therefore, the remaining 74 Member States are urged to provide their full contributions as soon as possible.

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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