| THE HAGUE, Netherlands – 19 November 2020 – The Government of Germany has contributed a further €500,000 to a special Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Trust Fund to support the construction of a new facility, the OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology (“ChemTech Centre”). The contribution was formalised during a ceremony between the Permanent Representative of Germany to the OPCW, H.E. Ambassador Gudrun Lingner, and OPCW Director-General, H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, which was held yesterday at OPCW Headquarters in The Hague. Ambassador Lingner stated: “I am very pleased to announce today Germany’s second contribution to the Trust Fund for the new ChemTech Centre. Germany has now contributed a total of €1.5M to this OPCW flagship project. The new ChemTech Centre will offer an ideal environment for the future work of the OPCW, and enhance capabilities for capacity building, training, and international cooperation. In addition, the Centre will be instrumental in guaranteeing the scientific excellence of laboratory analysis within the OPCW. Germany is proud to support this endeavour to uphold the Chemical Weapons Convention in the years to come.”The Director-General expressed his gratitude to the Government of Germany and noted: “This contribution represents a major step in bringing the ChemTech Centre into existence. Germany’s resolve and support has been indispensable to this undertaking which will place a state-of the art facility at the heart of OPCW’s battle against chemical weapons. ”Director-General Arias appealed to all OPCW States Parties 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, 45 countries, the European Union, and three other donors have contributed or pledged to contribute financially to the ChemTech Centre project, and a considerable amount has been raised to date. |
