Permanent Representative of Poland to the OPCW, H.E. Mr Marcin Czepelak, and OPCW Director-General, H.E. Mr Fernando Arias.
The Hague, Netherlands —14 November 2018 — The Government of Poland will contribute €100,000 to a special Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Trust Fund to support the upgrade the current OPCW Laboratory and Equipment Store through the construction of a new Centre for Chemistry and Technology.
The donation was formalised with a transfer of a letter by the Permanent Representative of Poland to the OPCW, H.E. Mr Marcin Czepelak, to OPCW Director-General, H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, on 14 November at OPCW Headquarters in The Hague.
On accepting the document, the Director-General stated: “I thank the Government of Poland for this generous contribution to the new OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology. This new and modern facility will address States Parties’ needs for enhanced verification and capacity-building activities, and will ensure the OPCW keeps pace with developments in science and technology and new chemical weapons threats.”
Ambassador Czepelak remarked: “This decision is a clear illustration of Poland’s support to the OPCW Technical Secretariat’s efforts in this challenging time, an unequivocal sign of trust and confidence in its dedication, professionalism, and expertise. In a broader sense, this step visibly confirms Poland’s utmost attachment to the idea of the world free of chemical weapons, now and in the future.”
The Director-General further encouraged other OPCW Member States to make voluntary contributions. He reiterated, “The new Centre will benefit all OPCW Member States and all assistance to realise this project is greatly appreciated”.