H.E. Ms. Päivi Kaukoranta, Ambassador of Finland and the Permanent Representative of Finland to the OPCW.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands – 13 July 2020 – The Government of Finland has made two contributions totalling €200,000 to support a number of major projects and activities of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
A contribution of approximately €100,000 will support the activities of the Trust Fund for Syria Missions at the OPCW. The Trust Fund for Syria Missions supports the Organisation’s missions and contingency operations related to the Syrian Arab Republic including the work of the Declaration Assessment Team (DAT), the Fact-Finding Mission (FFM), and the Investigation and Identification Team (IIT). Another contribution of €100,000 will be made to the OPCW Trust Fund to support the project to upgrade the current OPCW Laboratory and Equipment Store through the construction of a new Centre for Chemistry and Technology (“ChemTech Centre”).
The contribution was formalised during a ceremony between OPCW Director-General, H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, and the Permanent Representative of Finland, H.E. Ambassador Päivi Marjaana Kaukoranta, which was held at OPCW Headquarters in The Hague.
Ambassador Kaukoranta remarked: “Finland’s contribution to the OPCW Trust Fund for Syria Missions indicates our steadfast support for the professional work of the Technical Secretariat and the Investigation and Identification Team in particular. In order to achieve the aims of the Chemical Weapons Convention, it is essential to maintain and develop the capabilities of the OPCW and the national capacities of the States Parties. For that purpose, we are proud to also contribute to the new OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology.”
The Director-General expressed: “I thank the Government of Finland for these major contributions to the new OPCW ChemTech Centre and to the Trust Fund for Syria Missions. Both will further build the capabilities of our Member States to achieve a world free of chemical weapons.”
Director-General Arias appealed to all OPCW Member States in a position to make voluntary contributions to do so. He further emphasised the important role the new ChemTech Centre will play in strengthening the OPCW’s ability to address chemical weapon threats and enhance capacity building activities. He highlighted that “all contributions, regardless of size, are greatly appreciated”.
So far, forty-three Member States and the European Union have contributed or pledged to contribute financially to the ChemTech Centre project, and a considerable amount has been raised to date.
