Foreign Ministry’s Undersecretary participates in 24th Conference of the States Parties to OPCW

The Hague, Nov. 26 (BNA): Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Head of the National Committee for the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Use, Stockpiling and Destruction of Chemical Weapons, Dr. Shaikha Rana bint Isa bin Daij Al Khalifa, affirmed the Kingdom of Bahrain's readiness to cooperate with and support the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in carrying out its tasks, which is in line with Bahrain's belief in the high level of expertise and wisdom enriched in the Organization in fulfilling its tasks and responsibilities. This came in a speech delivered by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Head of the National Committee for the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Use and Stockpiling of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction during her participation in the Twenty-Fourth Conference of the States Parties to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, held in The Hague, Kingdom of the Netherlands, on 25-29 November 2019. At the beginning of her speech, Dr. Shaikha Rana congratulated Bulgarian Ambassador Krassimir Kostov on his appointment as President of the current session of the Conference, wishing him success in his new duties. The Undersecretary affirmed Bahrain’s belief in the Chemical Weapons Convention and how it constitutes a significant contribution to support international efforts towards disarmament, as the Kingdom of Bahrain was one of the first countries to accede to the Convention and to implement it at the national level. Dr. Shaikha Rana noted the Kingdom’s keenness on strengthening the universality of treaties and conventions on weapons of mass destruction, including the Chemical Weapons Convention, stressing that they are the guarantee in curbing the disasters of these weapons that pose a threat to all. The Undersecretary expressed that the Kingdom calls on the international community to provide the needed support to achieve the objectives of the Convention and condemned any use of chemical weapons by any party and under any circumstances. She also affirmed Bahrain’s commitment to the Convention and its interest in implementing it at the national and international levels, in an extension of its policy to contribute effectively to the efforts to ban all weapons of mass destruction and prevent their proliferation. She pointed out in this regard Bahrain’s efforts represented by the National Committee for the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Use and Stockpiling of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction, confirming the Kingdom's keenness to strengthen the existing cooperation with the Organization of Chemical Weapons. In this context, the Undersecretary addressed the Kingdom of Bahrain's hosting of the international workshop in cooperation with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons entitled "Chemical Safety and Security" to identify the areas of chemical safety and security and the best means to handle this material in an emergency. Dr. Shaikha Rana pointed out the tangible efforts exerted by the National Committee through the organization of periodic training and induction workshops to raise awareness of various sectors and civil society regarding the dangers of chemicals to avoid emergencies, with the clarification of ways to deal with them to prevent any disasters or environmental problems, in cooperation with various parties inside and outside the Kingdom of Bahrain, as the Kingdom believes that international cooperation is an opportunity to exchange experiences and discuss best practices. The Undersecretary announced that the Kingdom of Bahrain will launch a scientific research award in the field of disarmament with the aim of developing national cadres, building a community partnership and engaging youth in disarmament, as the Kingdom of Bahrain believes in young talent and strives to provide the best opportunities to highlight and develop them. In conclusion, Dr. Shaikha Rana affirmed that security and stability in the region can only be achieved through cooperation and consultation between countries, and stressed that the ultimate goal now is to completely eliminate chemical weapons and ensure that they do not reappear, affirming the keenness of the Kingdom of Bahrain to cooperate fully to make further progress.