Qatar Calls for Taking all Necessary Measures to Prevent Use of Chemical Weapons

The Hague, October 12 (QNA) - The State of Qatar has confirmed that the credibility of the prohibition of chemical weapons cannot be achieved unless this agreement secures not to use chemical weapons in any part of the world and under any circumstance. Qatar also renewed during the 77th Session of the Executive Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) its strong condemnation over the systematic use of chemical weapons in Syrian villages which are controlled by the opposition, urging the Council to take all measures to address this grave issue. Qatar has demanded the fact-finding mission to intensify its work in order to complete its efforts within a specific period of time and because of the severe danger posed by the use of chemical weapons, which is considered a flagrant violation of all international conventions and the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. Qatar also called on non-member countries to join the Convention to achieve the global objective and complete the process of getting rid safely of the stockpile of chemical weapons to enhance the credibility of this Convention. HE Qatar's Permanent Representative to the OPCW Ambassador Khalid Fahad Al Khater, who is also head of the Qatari delegation, said during the 77th Session of the OPCW Executive Council that Qatar established Doha Regional Centre for training on agreements relating to weapons of mass destruction, the first of its kind in the Middle East. He said that since the establishment of this center, many training courses and awareness workshops were organised for various sectors in the country and in the Asian region, adding that at the regional level, Qatar annually hosts a number of participants in the training course for customs officials in the GCC states. HE Ambassador Al Khater explained that pursuant to Article VI of the Convention, the State of Qatar annually organizes a workshop for national bodies in the Asian countries in cooperation with the OPCW. In the framework of the effective cooperation between the State of Qatar and the organization to achieve the objectives of the Convention, Qatar hosted for the second time four trainees in the joint program for the year 2014, where technical and logistical support full was provided for participants. HE Qatar's Permanent Representative to the OPCW Ambassador Khalid Fahad Al Khater also called on the Council to take all necessary and possible measures in accordance with the Convention to prevent any repetition of the use of chemical weapons. (QNA)