Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Sweden to the OPCW, H.E. Mr Johannes Oljelund, and OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Fernando Arias
THE HAGUE, Netherlands—27 June 2023—The Kingdom of Sweden has contributed more than €425,000 to the Trust Fund for the Implementation of Article X and the Trust Fund for Syria Missions of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
The contribution to the OPCW Trust Fund for the Implementation of Article X will be utilised to provide Ukraine, upon its requests, with technical assistance and expert advice on protection against chemical incidents. The contribution allocated to the OPCW Trust Fund for Syria Missions will be used towards the full elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme as well as establishing facts surrounding the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria, in accordance with the Chemical Weapons Convention and relevant decisions of the policy-making organs of the OPCW and resolutions of the United Nation Security Council.
The voluntary contributions were formalised on 21 June 2023 during an official meeting held between the Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Sweden to the OPCW, H.E. Mr Johannes Oljelund, and the OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Fernando Arias, at the Organisation’s Headquarters in The Hague.
“With these contributions, we are determined to continue our long-standing financial and political support to the Organisation and to the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, thereby upholding the universal norm against the use of chemical weapons,” said Ambassador Oljelund.
“Sweden continues to support the essential work of the Declaration Assessment Team, the Fact-Finding Mission and the Investigation and Identification Team. We continue to closely follow the investigations into the use of chemical weapons by Syria, as crucial steps towards accountability for the use of chemical weapons. We commend the relentless efforts of the Declaration Assessment Team to ensure that the initial declaration of the Syrian Arab Republic can be considered accurate and complete,” he emphasised.
“As Russia’s unlawful and unjustified invasion of Ukraine rages on, we continue to do as much as possible to support Ukraine. The war reminds us of the very real threat posed by weapons of mass destruction, including chemical weapons. We are therefore keen to contribute to the Secretariat’s efforts to enhance Ukraine’s preparedness and response capabilities against the threat of chemical weapons use and against attacks targeting chemical industrial facilities,” he added.
The Director-General stated: “I express my sincere appreciation to the Kingdom of Sweden for its financial and political support to the OPCW’s mission to permanently eradicate chemical weapons. These contributions will help the Organisation to continue its critical work to ensure that the norms and principles of the Chemical Weapons Convention are upheld.”
Background
The Kingdom of Sweden has been an active member of the OPCW since the Chemical Weapons Convention entered into force in 1997.
The Declaration Assessment Team was established in 2014 to engage the relevant Syrian authorities to resolve the identified gaps, inconsistencies, and discrepancies in the Syrian declaration. The Fact-Finding Mission was set up in the same year in response to persistent allegations of chemical weapon attacks in Syria, with the task to establish facts surrounding allegations of the use of toxic chemicals for hostile purposes. The Investigation and Identification Team began its work in 2019 and is responsible for identifying the perpetrators of the use of chemical weapons in Syria.
Under Article X of the Convention, Member States “have the right to participate in, the fullest possible exchange of equipment, material and scientific and technological information concerning means of protection against chemical weapons.”
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 99% 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.
More Information
Article X – Assistance and Protection Against Chemical Weapons | OPCW
Chemical Weapons Convention | OPCW