France provides voluntary funding to enhance OPCW’s work

H.E. Mr François Alabrune, Permanent Representative of the French Republic to the OPCW, and Sabrina Dallafior, OPCW Director-General. (Photo: OPCW) The Government of France has contributed EUR 1 million to the Trust Fund for Syria Missions and EUR 30,000 to the Trust Fund for the Implementation of Article VII.  The contribution for the Trust Fund for Syria Missions will enable the OPCW to continue its independent technical work in Syria, including verification activities, deployment of expert missions, and efforts to clarify outstanding issues related to the chemical weapons programme inherited from the Assad’s government. The OPCW’s work in Syria remains central to the Organisation’s mission to uphold the global norm against chemical weapons.   The contribution to the Trust Fund for the Implementation of Article VII will be used to organise a Workshop on Preventing Illicit Transfers of Toxic Chemicals. The workshop will strengthen the capacity of customs officers and other relevant stakeholders from Francophone OPCW Member States in Africa to enforce the Chemical Weapons Convention’s transfer regimes and safeguard the safety and security of global chemical supply...