Contributes €10,000 to Future OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology
THE HAGUE, Netherlands–13 October 2020–The Government of Lithuania has contributed €10,000 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”).
The contribution was formalised during a ceremony between the Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the OPCW, H.E. Ambassador Vidmantas Purlys, and OPCW Director-General, H.E. Mr. Fernando Arias, which was held yesterday at OPCW Headquarters in The Hague.
Ambassador Purlys remarked: “Lithuania regards OPCW as a very important multilateral organisation for advancing international disarmament and upholding security. The work of the OPCW brought about the elimination of almost an entire category of weapons of mass destruction. However, there are many challenges and new threats that the international community is facing in relation to chemical weapons.
Unfortunately, over the last several years we have seen chemical weapons being used in Syria, the United Kingdom, Russia and other countries. There are threats of chemical terrorism and the use of sophisticated toxic chemicals as weapons. We need to make sure that the OPCW is well-equipped to meet the challenges of the future. We consider the Centre for Chemistry and Technology a flagship project in this regard. Therefore, the Lithuanian Government has decided to make a voluntary contribution to the establishment of the ChemTech Centre.”
The Director-General stated: “I commend Lithuania’s support for the ChemTech project. Such voluntary contributions are essential to the completion of this major endeavour that will advance our shared goal of maintaining and reinforcing the global ban on 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, 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.
