Image source: opcw.org
Finland has contributed approximately 100,000 euros to the trust fund of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) for its fact-finding missions in Syria.
Finland also supported the OPCW with 150,000 euros, which is intended to support fact-finding efforts in Syria and the trust fund for Ukraine.
Additionally, Finland allocated 50,000 euros to implement Article 10 of the trust fund to support ongoing assistance and protection programs related to Ukraine.
A signing ceremony was held at the OPCW headquarters in The Hague on September 10, 2024, between Finland’s ambassador and permanent representative to the OPCW, His Excellency Mr. Ilkka-Pekka Similä, and OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Fernando Arias.
Ambassador Similä expressed his country’s pride in making voluntary contributions to the OPCW’s trust funds for Syria and the implementation of Article 10, emphasizing that it reaffirms Finland’s strong commitment to the Chemical Weapons Convention and its condemnation of the use of chemical weapons “under any circumstances.”
Similä also expressed confidence in the professional work carried out by the OPCW, from its critical investigations in Syria to enhancing Ukraine’s preparedness and ability to respond to potential chemical weapons threats.
The Chemical Weapons Convention came into effect in 1997, and Finland is a member of the OPCW’s Executive Council, the governing body of the organization.
Finland has made voluntary contributions totaling over 1.587 million euros to eight OPCW trust funds, including the trust fund for special missions to Syria.
In 2014, the Declaration Assessment Team was established to engage the relevant Syrian authorities in resolving gaps and inconsistencies identified in Syria’s declaration. The Fact-Finding Mission was also created in the same year in response to ongoing allegations of chemical weapons attacks in Syria, with the aim of establishing the facts surrounding claims of the use of toxic chemicals for hostile purposes. The Investigation and Identification Team began its work in 2019 and is responsible for identifying the perpetrators of chemical weapons use in Syria.
Under Article 10 of the Chemical Weapons Convention, member states have “the right to participate in the fullest possible exchange of equipment, materials, and scientific and technological information concerning means of protection against chemical weapons.”
On April 24, 2024, the OPCW expressed doubts about the Syrian regime’s declaration of having dismantled its chemical weapons program. The organization indicated concerns about ongoing chemical weapons development in Syria, despite announcing in 2023 that it had verified the irreversible destruction of all declared chemical weapons stockpiles by member states under its stringent verification system.
The Chemical Violations Documentation Center of Syria (CVDCS) emphasizes the need for the full implementation and adherence to the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention, which mandates the elimination of an entire class of weapons of mass destruction by prohibiting the development, production, acquisition, storage, retention, transfer, or use of chemical weapons by the state parties.
CVDCS also stresses the importance of holding all parties involved in the use of chemical weapons for hostile purposes accountable and ensuring justice for victims and their families.
