GOVT. CALLS FOR COLLABORATION IN ADDRESSING RISKS OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS
MINISTRY of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Permanent Secretary for Administration Hope Situmbeko, says collective effort is needed in managing risks involved in chemical weapons prevention.
Ms Situmbeko said efforts to prevent chemical weapons prevention must continue in order to be able to identify, mitigate and manage all the risks involved in chemical weapons prevention.
She was speaking today in Lusaka, at the official opening of the Regional Seminar on the Chemical Weapons Convention and Chemical Safety and Security Management for Member States of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
“This means building on our production base. Looking at different value chains and building on that, ensuring that our industries and manufacturing sectors are expanding. What facilitates them is chemicals meaning that the work that is being done under the framework of the Chemical Weapons Convention continues to be relevant,” she added.
She appreciated the OPCW for their efforts and the European Union for their support.
Speaking at the same event, OPCW Senior Programme Officer, Massimo de Reinzo said the convention is more than a disarmament treaty but is also geared toward the prevention of reemergence of chemical weapons.
Mr Reinzo explained that to prevent reemergence of chemical weapons requires commitments and contributions from all stakeholders across the globe.
“To further prevent the reemergence of chemical weapons, security at industrial sites together with supply chain and the inclusivity of security, remains a priority,” he added.
He charged that the international cooperation branch of the OPCW shall remain at the centre of actions to promote peaceful uses of chemicals adding that OPCW will offer a series of capacity
building programmes that aim at improving the Chemical security and insecurity as well as preventing misuse of chemicals for purposes prohibited under the convention.
“Promoting peaceful uses of chemicals is very important for developing economies and ecology, requiring support from all stakeholders,” he said.