New York: The State of Qatar has stressed the importance of full and complete implementation of all international conventions and treaties related to the prohibition and disarmament of weapons of mass destruction of all kinds, to maintain the safety of future generations and protect the planet.
This came in a statement delivered by Ahmed Abdullah Al Obaidly, a member of the Qatari delegation participating in the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, before the First Committee of the General Assembly during its 80th session, on the item entitled "Other Weapons of Mass Destruction", at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Al Obaidly explained at the beginning of the statement that the existence and use of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons, threatens the security of states and the safety of peoples and violates fundamental human rights, foremost among which is the right to life.
He noted that this danger increases with the possibility of non-state actors obtaining these weapons and their means of delivery.
He pointed out that the State of Qatar, at the national level, continues to develop and update national legislation related to weapons of mass destruction, in line with its obligations under the international conventions to which it has acceded.
He explained that the State of Qatar cooperates closely with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and is working to strengthen its role in supporting the implementation of the convention.
He added that the State of Qatar is currently hosting the 12th Annual Meeting of Representatives of the Chemical Industry and National Authorities of States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention, from October 21 to 24 in Doha, with the aim of enhancing cooperation between the chemical industry and national authorities to support the full and effective implementation of the convention.
He expressed the State of Qatar's welcome to the adoption by the Executive Council of the OPCW, at its 110th session, of the resolution entitled "The Accelerated Destruction of Any Remaining Chemical Weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic," which was adopted by consensus among Member States.
He said that the State of Qatar, as the state representing the interests of the Syrian Arab Republic within the OPCW, had submitted the draft resolution to the Executive Council in support of the international community's efforts to eliminate any remnants of chemical weapons and promote constructive cooperation between States Parties and the OPCW.
The resolution was co-sponsored by more than 50 countries.
The statement indicated that the State of Qatar, in support of regional efforts to exchange knowledge and raise awareness of the importance of disarmament, organized and hosted three sessions of the Arab Forum on Arms Control, Disarmament, and Non-Proliferation, the last of which was held in Doha from June 4 to 6, 2024.
Al Obaidly said that the State of Qatar hosted a regional training course for national focal points on the implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention at the United Nations House in Doha in 2024, with the aim of enhancing the implementation of the Convention and exchanging information and expertise between national focal points and stakeholders in the Middle East and North Africa.
