Republic of Korea Contributes €100,000 to Future OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology, €20,000 to Peaceful Use of Chemistry Workshop
In the picture, H.E. Mr. Yeondoo Jeong, Ambassador of South Korea.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands–2 October 2020–The Government of the Republic of Korea has contributed a further €100,000 to a special Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Trust Fund to support the project to upgrade the current OPCW Laboratory and Equipment Store.
This project will result in the construction of a new facility, the OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology (“ChemTech Centre”). Additionally, a €20,000 contribution will augment the OPCW’s Trust Fund for Regional Seminars to help organise the ninth edition of the workshop on the peaceful development and use of chemistry for OPCW Member States in the Asian region, to be held in Seoul later this year.
Both contributions were formalised during a ceremony between the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the OPCW, H.E. Ambassador Yeondoo Jeong, and OPCW Director-General, H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, which was held at OPCW Headquarters in The Hague.
Ambassador Jeong remarked: “As a staunch supporter of the work of the OPCW, the Government of the Republic of Korea believes that the Organisation and States Parties should be capable enough to adapt themselves to newly evolving challenges and threats. It is in this spirit that the Korean Government decided to continue our annual contributions to the two important undertakings: the ChemTech Centre project to upgrade the existing OPCW laboratory, and the annual Seoul Workshop to assist Asian States Parties’ efforts in their chemical safety and security management. We hope our support will contribute to strengthening the international regime against chemical weapons.
“The Director-General expressed: “This contribution brings us a step closer to making the ChemTech Centre a reality. This common endeavour of all OPCW Member States will strengthen the OPCW’s scientific and technological ability to provide additional confidence in our verification regime.”
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, 43 Member States, Israel – a signatory state – 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.
