Italy’s “appreciation” and “convinced support” were Minister Giulio Terzi’s message today to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), on the 15th anniversary of the entry into force of the Chemical Weapons Convention, underscoring the organisation’s commitment to implementing a convention that, Terzi recalled, “is one of the cornerstones of the international disarmament and non-proliferation regimen”.
The Convention – its 188 States Signatory representing 98% of the world’s population – banned, for the first time ever, an entire category of weapons of mass destruction and led to the destruction of 75% of world chemical arsenals.
“The crisis in Syria, one of the States that have not adhered to the Convention, confirms the still looming threat of chemical weapons”, Terzi observed. “We must strive to expand the number of signatories to the Convention, which calls for the complete destruction of chemical arsenals in an effort to eradicate the danger they pose to international security, as well as to the environment”.
“It is Italy’s fervent hope that the Convention will one day be universal, and shall continue to work toward its implementation”, Terzi concluded.
