The Hague, Netherlands –17 January 2020– The Government of Algeria has contributed €15,000 to a special Organization 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 at the OPCW Headquarters between OPCW Director-General, H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, and the Permanent Representative of Algeria to the OPCW, H.E. Ambassador Lounès Magramane.
The Director-General expressed: “I thank the Government of Algeria for this contribution to the new OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology that will further build the capabilities of our Member States to achieve a world free of chemical weapons.”
Ambassador Magramane commented that Algeria is honoured to contribute to the OPCW Trust Fund to support the ChemTech Centre project, and to highlight Algeria’s positive relationship with the OPCW and its desire to further develop this collaboration. He remarked: “As a Member State contributing to the ChemTech Centre project, Algeria hopes to see the establishing of the new Centre as an instrument for enhancing capacity building in African OPCW Member States.”
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, boost its investigative capability, and enhance capacity building activities. He highlighted that “all contributions, regardless of size, are greatly appreciated”.
So far, thirty States Parties and the European Union have contributed or pledged to contribute financially to the project, and a considerable amount has been raised to date.
