By Kwanele Dhladhla
Prime Minister Russell Dlamini has called for the complete destruction of all chemical weapons across the globe.
This was during a meeting with Ambassador Fernando Arias, the Director General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), at OPCW’s headquarters in The Hague (Netherlands).
Mirage, a news real-time media portal, reported that during the meeting, Arias and Dlamini discussed challenges and opportunities for strengthening the global norm against chemical weapons amid an evolving international security climate.
“The Kingdom of Eswatini remains fully committed to the principles of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
We commend the OPCW’s ongoing efforts towards the complete destruction and elimination of chemical weapons globally and the quest to ensure that chemistry is used exclusively for peaceful purposes,” Dlamini said.
He went on to state; “Our engagement with the OPCW, particularly in capacity-building initiatives, reinforces our dedication to international cooperation and the protection of human lives.
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We look forward to deepening our collaboration to support a safer world free of chemical weapons for all.”
The director general thanked Eswatini for its steadfast commitment and support to enhancing OPCW’s activities.
He mentioned that the technical secretariat continued to work with all member states to uphold the global norm against chemical weapons.
“Through collaboration and adherence to the Chemical Weapons Convention, we can ensure a safer, more secure world free of chemical weapons for future generations,” said Arias.
Arias briefed the PM on his recent meeting with Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani in Damascus.
The Mirage disclosed that the director general went on to re-affirm the technical secretariat’s commitment to supporting Syria in achieving its long-term compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and its readiness to complete the elimination of Syria’s chemical weapons programme after eleven years of obstruction by the former Syrian authorities.
Director-General Arias also gave an overview of a recently published report on the OPCW’s second Technical Assistance visit to Ukraine.
The report confirmed the presence of Chlorobenzylidenemalononitrile (CS), a riot control agent, along the confrontation lines in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Under the CWC, using such agents as a method of warfare remains prohibited.
This was the second report released by the Technical Secretariat upon request by Ukraine, confirming the presence of CS in this area, following the release of the first report in November 2024.
Director-General Arias underlined the importance of closely monitoring advancements in science and emerging technologies, especially in the context of rising concerns about Artificial Intelligence (AI) being misused by non-state actors.
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He noted, however, that emerging technologies could also present opportunities to advance the implementation of the Convention and underlined that the OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology (ChemTech Centre) significantly enhances the organisation’s capabilities to keep abreast of developments in this field.
Director-General Arias concluded by highlighting the importance of the OPCW Africa Programme, which provided tailored capacity-building activities in chemical safety and security across Africa.
PM Russell Mmiso Dlamini and Ambassador Fernando Arias, OPCW Director-General, during a visit to OPCW Headquarters in The Hague, the Netherlands. (Pic; Mirage)
MP Bhekibandla Vilakati, PM Russell Dlamini, Counsellor Xolile Ngwenya, Ambassador Odette Melono,
OPCW Deputy Director-General and Ambassador Fernando Arias, OPCW Director-General engaged in discussions during the meeting at OPCW Headquarters. (Pic; Mirage)
