H.E. Mrs Esther Rabasa Grau, Permanent Representative of the Principality of Andorra to the OPCW, and Ambassador Fernando Arias, OPCW Director-General
THE HAGUE, Netherlands—19 December 2023— The Government of the Principality of Andorra has voluntarily contributed €10,000 to two trust funds of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
The amount of €5,000 will be allocated to the Trust Fund for Training and will be used to enhance training activities at the OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology (ChemTech Centre). The rest of the contribution is earmarked for the Trust Fund for the International Support Network for Victims of Chemical Weapons and will be used to assist the Network’s activities promoting gender equity.
The voluntary contribution was formalised on 23 November 2023 in a signing ceremony held between the Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Principality of Andorra to the OPCW, Mrs Esther Rabasa Grau, and the OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Fernando Arias, at the OPCW’s Headquarters in The Hague.
“Once again Andorra wishes to show its commitment to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons by making a voluntary contribution to continue supporting the essential work of the International Network in Support of Victims of Chemical Weapons,” said Ambassador Rabasa Grau.
“Andorra also wishes to show its engagement by contributing to the training activities carried out in the ChemTech Centre,” she added.
The Director-General stated: “I express my sincere appreciation to Andorra for its support to these important projects. Through trainings delivered at the ChemTech Centre, we enhance expertise in Member States in countering the threat of chemical weapons use. Furthermore, the OPCW is committed to providing crucial assistance to victims of chemical weapons and prevent others from falling victim to these abhorrent weapons.”
Background
Andorra has been an active member of the OPCW since 2003.
To date, Andorra has contributed a total of €71,966 to the four OPCW trust funds: the Trust Fund for the International Support Network for Victims of Chemical Weapons, the Trust Fund for Training, the Trust Fund for a Centre for Chemistry and Technology, and the Trust Fund for Syria.
The OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology (ChemTech Centre), which was inaugurated on 12 May 2023, enhances the OPCW’s ability to conduct chemical research and analysis. This significantly reinforces the Organisation’s verification regime and inspection capabilities of chemical industries around the world. In addition, an increasing number of capacity building activities are being delivered through the Centre, including chemical emergency response trainings and analytical skills development courses for experts from Member States.
The OPCW Trust Fund for International Support Network for Victims of Chemical Weapons was established in 2011 by the Conference of the States Parties. OPCW Member States can support the Network by providing medical treatment to victims of chemical warfare in their countries, organising events to raise awareness of issues related to victims of chemical weapons, or exchanging best practice related to treatment of chemical weapons victims.
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.
On 7 July 2023, the OPCW verified that all chemical weapons stockpiles declared by the 193 States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention since 1997 — totalling 72,304 metric tonnes of chemical agents — have been irreversibly destroyed under the OPCW’s strict verification regime.
For its extensive efforts in eliminating chemical weapons, the OPCW received the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize.