Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chairman of the National Committee on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapon and on their Destruction, Abdullah bin Faisal bin Jabur Al-Doseri, met virtually today with the Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Fernando Arias.
During the meeting, the Assistant Foreign Minister praised the efforts exerted by the OPCW Director-General in promoting international cooperation. He lauded the organisation’s prominent role in providing all means of support to all countries to achieve security and stability. He stressed keenness of the Kingdom of Bahrain to boost cooperation with it in the field of tackling proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
He noted that the world today is going through challenges and exceptional circumstances due to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, indicating that Bahrain, despite these circumstances, did not fail to fulfill its obligations. He pointed out the committee’s keenness to continue its work by holding virtual meetings, organizing training programmes in cooperation with the organisation and working to implement the obligations contained in the agreement.
He also reviewed the efforts made by Bahrain since the signing of the agreement, noting that the national committee was established in Bahrain based on Law No. (51) of 2009, which was issued in implementation of the agreement ratified by the Kingdom in 1997. He pointed out the amendment of legislation to keep pace with the requirements of the agreement, stressing that Bahrain’s policy is consistent in supporting efforts aimed at eliminating weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery and preventing their spread.
For his part, the OPCW Director-General expressed his pride and appreciation for the constructive relations of cooperation with the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the kingdom’s on the implementation of international agreements to achieve desired goals.
He lauded the efforts of Bahrain in implementing the agreement at the national level through the enactment of legislation and training of its national cadres in all fields and sectors. He hailed commitment of the Assistant Foreign Minister to follow up on the work of the National Committee.
He also expressed thanks and appreciation to the Kingdom of Bahrain for the continuous support since the organisation’s inception. He praised Bahrain’s positive attitudes towards international and regional issues to ensure a world free of chemical weapons and weapons of mass destruction, wishing the kingdom further progress and prosperity.
The two sides also reviewed a number of issues of common interest during the meeting.
Source: Bahrain News Agency