| The Hague, Netherlands – 27 January 2021 – The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has made a voluntary contribution of £29,000 to support training activities at the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). The contribution was formalized during a ceremony between the Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the OPCW, H.E. Ambassador Joanna Roper CMG, and OPCW Director-General, H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, which was held at OPCW Headquarters in The Hague. The funds will support training for inspectors and other relevant OPCW personnel in skills necessary for non-routine inspections, investigations and Rapid Response and Assistance Mission (RRAM) deployments, as well as for regional Assistance and Protection training in the Caribbean. Ambassador Roper remarked: “I am delighted to make a further contribution towards supporting OPCW inspector training and capacity building activities in the Caribbean. This voluntary contribution will enable tangible improvements to the capabilities of States Parties and help achieve a world free of chemical weapons.” The Director-General stated: “I thank the Government of the United Kingdom for its continuous support to the OPCW. Developing personnel expertise is critical to maintaining the Organization’s readiness and capability to lend a helping hand to its Member States during emergency and non-routine situations. Additionally, building regional assistance and protection capacity ensures greater ability of Member States to confidently handle chemical crises.” |
