Malaysia An Exemplary State Party To Chemical Weapons Convention

PUTRAJAYA (Malaysia), May 9 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's strong commitment to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) has become exemplary to others State Parties, Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Ahmet Üzümcü said today. He said Malaysia, through the National Authority for Chemical Weapons Conventions supported for the work of the OPCW, has contributed to the security of the region as well as global level in promoting global peace and security. "Malaysia is exemplary. I encourage Malaysia to share its experience with other state parties so that they can organize themselves in a similar manner. "Malaysia showed itself as an active member by organising the Chemical Weapons Convention and Chemical Safety and Security Management Seminar, a four-day event which started May 8. "It is highly appreciated. We hope it will continue in future," he told reporters after paying a courtesy call on Deputy Foreign Minister of Malaysia Richard Riot Jaem at Wisma Putra here Tuesday. Üzümcü is on a two-day visit to Malaysia, where he had meetings with senior officials and a number of national stakeholder institutions. Also present was chairman of the National Authority Chemical Weapons Convention Hamidon Ali. Meanwhile, Riot said Malaysia was obligated and pledged to play its part to ensure CWC would be adhered. "In fulfilling its obligation under the convention, Malaysia has enacted Chemical Weapons Convention Act 2005 and CWC Regulations 2007 as guidelines to the National Authority for Chemical Weapons Convention to carry out its obligations under the convention," he said. Malaysia is part of the 188 state parties since its entry into force in 1997 together with participating members states comprising Cambodia, Germany, Pakistan, India, Japan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand among others. CWC, an international treaty that prohibits, amongst others, the development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, retention, transfer (directly and indirectly) and use of chemical weapons and requires the destruction of existing weapons. -- BERNAMA