OPCW chief: 90 pct of chemical weapons in world destroyed

BRUSSELS, May 28 (KUNA) -- Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Ambassador Ahmet Uzumcu announced Thursday that 90 percent of declared chemical weapons had been verified by the OPCW as destroyed.
This includes stocks of unitary weapons like sulfur mustard and primary precursor chemicals for producing deadly nerve agents like sarin, he said.
All destruction activities have been completed in a safe manner, he said in a statement in Hague where the organisation locates.
"This is a major milestone that shows we are well on the way to ridding the world of chemical weapons," said Uzumcu.
The process to complete the elimination of Cold War-era stockpiles in Russia and the United States is well underway and is scheduled to be completed before the end of 2020 and 2023, respectively, he noted.
Commenting on other aspects of the OPCW's mission, the OPCW's chief said that there was more work ahead, and new challenges to address, if the international community is to succeed in preventing chemical weapons from re-emerging.
The Chemical Weapons Convention has 190 states parties. The sates of Angola, Egypt, Israel, Myanmar, North Korea and South Sudan are still outside the convention.
Angola's and Myanmar's parliaments have recently approved joining the convention and both countries are expected to be members soon. (end) nk.hm