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Strengthening the Chemical Weapons Convention: Minister of State Annen travels to The Hague
Minister of State Niels Annen is travelling to The Hague today (26 June) to head up the German delegation to the Special Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). This session is being held against the backdrop of the ongoing use of chemical weapons in Syria, their use in Iraq and attacks with nerve agents in Salisbury and Kuala Lumpur. Germany is working to ensure that the session adopts a decision to strengthen the CWC and the capabilities of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
Prior to his departure, Minister of State Annan said the following today (26 June):
In view of the repeated use of these cruel weapons, we urgently need to strengthen the Chemical Weapons Convention. The OPCW must be in a position to investigate evidence regarding perpetrators of chemical weapon attacks and to identify them. We want to adopt an approach to this end at the Special Session. Those who deploy chemical weapons in Syria must be named and punished. Using such inhumane weapons must continue to be prohibited.
Background information:
At the request of Germany and ten other States Parties, the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention will meet for a Special Session from 26 to 28 June 2018 to address efforts to preserve the global ban on chemical weapons. Over 90 states endorsed this request. The Chemical Weapons Convention entered into force in 1997 and has 192 members. It prohibits the development, manufacture, transfer and use of chemical weapons. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons monitors compliance with the Convention.