H.E. Dr Anže Logar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia and H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, Director-General of the OPCW
THE HAGUE, Netherlands—15 December 2020—The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia, H.E. Dr Anže Logar, met today with the Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, at OPCW Headquarters in The Hague.
The Director-General briefed the Minister of Foreign Affairs on the OPCW’s progress in implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and the Organisation’s activities in addressing challenges to achieving a world free of chemical weapons. The meeting also focused on the opportunities to further strengthen cooperation between the Organisation and Slovenia, particularly in light of the upcoming Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2021.
Minister Logar congratulated the Director-General and the Technical Secretariat for their dedicated work despite the challenging conditions of the Covid-19 pandemic. Condemning the re-emergence of prohibited use of chemical agents in recent years, he stressed the importance of assuring accountability for such crimes. He further welcomed the new Centre for Chemistry and Technology, which Slovenia supported with a voluntary financial contribution. The Minister remarked, “Slovenia resolutely supports the Chemical Weapons Convention as one of the pillars of disarmament, and will continue to offer every support to the work of OPCW”.
Director-General Arias expressed his gratitude for Slovenia’s support for the work of the Organisation and expressed: “Slovenia is an important partner in preserving an international consensus against chemical weapons. We look forward to our continued cooperation in translating this consensus into effective action for the benefit of international peace and security.”
H.E. Dr Anže Logar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia and H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, Director-General of the OPCW look at the proposed design of the new OPCW ChemTech Centre
Background
Slovenia has been an active member of the OPCW since the Chemical Weapons Convention entered into force in 1997.
As the implementing body for the Chemical Weapons Convention, the OPCW, with its 193 Member States, oversees the global endeavour to permanently eliminate chemical weapons. Since the Convention’s entry into force in 1997, it is the most successful disarmament treaty eliminating an entire class of weapons of mass destruction.
Over 98% of all declared chemical weapon stockpiles have been destroyed under OPCW verification. For its extensive efforts in eliminating chemical weapons, the OPCW received the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize.