Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General
On 9 May 2007, the United Nations Secretary-General, H.E. Mr Ban Ki-moon, delivered the following video message on the occasion of the unveiling of a permanent Memorial dedicated to All Victims of Chemical Weapons by Her Majesty Beatrix, Queen of the Netherlands at the Headquarters of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons:
“The memorial you unveil today is a symbol of suffering and hope.
With it, we remember the unspeakable horror endured by victims of chemical weapons.
And we vow that their pain will never be forgotten by present and future generations.
We give effect to that pledge by unveiling this memorial on the tenth anniversary of the entry into force of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
As we do, we pledge to redouble our efforts to achieve universal membership of the Chemical Weapons Convention, and to free the world from chemical weapons.
I call on those States that have not yet ratified or acceded to the Convention to do so without delay. And I call on all possessor States to complete the destruction of their declared stockpiles according to the deadlines.
The United Nations will work steadfastly together with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the international community towards that end.
On this date, we also mark the time when World War Two came to an end in Europe 62 years ago. Let us draw on that spirit. Let us spare no effort in our endeavours to banish chemical weapons from the face of the earth. ”
PR40 / 2007