Riyadh Leads the Charge at OPCW Executive Council
The executive council of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has kicked off its 106th session in The Hague, with a strong Saudi presence.
Ambassador Ziyad bin Maashi Al-Attiyah, leading the Saudi delegation, made it clear that Saudi Arabia is fully committed to international cooperation in prohibiting and preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction.
Al-Attiyah condemned the use of chemical weapons, stating it is a blatant violation of international law and the Chemical Weapons Convention. He also expressed support for recent statements from the OPCW spokesperson regarding the situation in Ukraine.
The Saudi ambassador did not shy away from addressing the ongoing crimes in Gaza by Israeli forces, calling for immediate action to implement UN Security Council resolutions for a ceasefire.
Furthermore, Al-Attiyah reiterated Saudi Arabia’s support for Palestine, urging other nations to recognize Palestine within its 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The issue of Syria’s chemical weapons program was also on the agenda, with the Saudi envoy emphasizing the importance of cooperation to address outstanding issues.
Additionally, Saudi Arabia congratulated Algeria on the designation of its National Institute of Forensic Evidence and Criminology as a new OPCW laboratory.
Looking ahead, Al-Attiyah highlighted the need to address emerging threats like artificial intelligence in chemical warfare and welcomed an upcoming conference in Rabat focusing on the role of AI in implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention.