November 27, 2017
The Hague - More than 96% of chemical weapons (click here) have been destroyed in the world, Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Director General Ahmet Uzumcu said, addressing the 22nd Session of the Conference of the State Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention.
"With regard to the overall progress in destruction, to date the Secretarial has verified the elimination of 67,851 metric tonnes of category one chemical weapons, which equals to over 96% of the total 70,494 metric tonnes declared by the possessor states parties," he said....
November 28, 2017
Editor: Liangyu
A file photo (click here) from 1995 provided by a Japanese government research team shows Japanese chemical weapons left behind at the end of World War II in the northern Chinese district of Haerbaling, Jilin province.
The Hague - A Chinese official Tuesday (click here) called on the Organization for the Prohibition of chemical Weapons (OPCW) to give particular and necessary attention to ensuring the destruction of chemical weapons abandoned by Japan (Japanese ACWs)in China.
Wu Ken, China's permanent representative to The Hague-based OPCW, made the remarks at the 22nd conference of the State Parties of the OPCW.
"Given the fact that the destruction of Japanese ACWs has a direct impact on the realisation of the core objects and purposes of the Convention, the lofty goal of building a world free from CWs will never be truly achieved so long as Japanese ACWs have not been eliminated," Wu said.
Japanese ACWs have been discovered at over 90 locations in 17 provinces in China. They are projectiles, mortars, aerial bombs, liquid-filled drums and gas-filled pots containing chemical agents such as sulfur mustards, lewisite and phosgene, etc.
They have been found dumped in densely populated areas, in nature reserves and in rivers and lakes, as well as off shore. Due to their age, these munitions are rusty, damaged and often leaking. Some also contain explosives.
At Haerbaling in northeast China's Jilin province alone, the largest Japanese ACWs burial site discovered in China up to now, it is estimated that around 330,000 pieces of such weapons remain buried....
Syria is still in the balance.
November 28, 2017
HE Sheikh Jassim bin Mohamed al-Thani addressing the 22nd session of the conference of the states parties to the convention on the prohibition of the development, production, use and destruction of chemical weapons in The Hague.
Editor: Liangyu
A file photo (click here) from 1995 provided by a Japanese government research team shows Japanese chemical weapons left behind at the end of World War II in the northern Chinese district of Haerbaling, Jilin province.
The Hague - A Chinese official Tuesday (click here) called on the Organization for the Prohibition of chemical Weapons (OPCW) to give particular and necessary attention to ensuring the destruction of chemical weapons abandoned by Japan (Japanese ACWs)in China.
Wu Ken, China's permanent representative to The Hague-based OPCW, made the remarks at the 22nd conference of the State Parties of the OPCW.
"Given the fact that the destruction of Japanese ACWs has a direct impact on the realisation of the core objects and purposes of the Convention, the lofty goal of building a world free from CWs will never be truly achieved so long as Japanese ACWs have not been eliminated," Wu said.
Japanese ACWs have been discovered at over 90 locations in 17 provinces in China. They are projectiles, mortars, aerial bombs, liquid-filled drums and gas-filled pots containing chemical agents such as sulfur mustards, lewisite and phosgene, etc.
They have been found dumped in densely populated areas, in nature reserves and in rivers and lakes, as well as off shore. Due to their age, these munitions are rusty, damaged and often leaking. Some also contain explosives.At Haerbaling in northeast China's Jilin province alone, the largest Japanese ACWs burial site discovered in China up to now, it is estimated that around 330,000 pieces of such weapons remain buried....
Syria is still in the balance.
HE Sheikh Jassim bin Mohamed al-Thani addressing the 22nd session of the conference of the states parties to the convention on the prohibition of the development, production, use and destruction of chemical weapons in The Hague.
Qatar has affirmed (click here) its support for the continuation of the joint mechanism of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the United Nations in Syria until those responsible for the use of chemical weapons are identified and brought to justice.
It reiterated its commitment to its international obligations to maintain peace and security in the world, combat terrorism in all its forms and contribute to the stability, security and prosperity of humanity.
HE Sheikh Jassim bin Mohamed al-Thani, Qatar's permanent representative to OPCW, made the remarks at the 22nd session of the conference of the states parties to the convention on the prohibition of the development, production, use and destruction of chemical weapons in The Hague.
Since Qatar joined the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), HE Sheikh Jassim bin Mohamed al-Thani said, it has made great efforts in implementing all the articles of the convention and supporting its activities, adding that in implementation of Article 7, the National Committee for the Prohibition of Weapons (NCPW) was established in 2004 to be the body responsible for taking measures for the co-ordination, implementation and follow-up of the procedures of the convention inside the country and abroad....
