Russia sticking to chemical weapons pact: OPCW head

MOSCOW

Russia is among the leading countries in terms of fulfilling the terms and conditions of the Chemical Weapons Convention, the head of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons said Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters in Moscow ahead of a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Ahmet Uzumcu said that Russia fulfills its responsibilities under the treaty, having so far destroyed 93 percent of its stockpiles of chemical weapons.

“We expect the destruction to be completed in the coming years,” said Uzumcu, a career Turkish diplomat.

Lavrov for his part said that they would be discussing a proposal for a new agreement to ensure that the treaty is enforced by all signatories, and chemical terrorist attacks are prevented.

Uzumcu is later expected to meet with officials from the Russian parliament’s upper and lower houses, the Federation Council and the Duma.

He is also scheduled to have meetings at the Industry Ministry and visit a chemical weapons destruction site in Moscow.

MOSCOW

“We expect the destruction to be completed in the coming years,” said Uzumcu, a career Turkish diplomat.

Lavrov for his part said that they would be discussing a proposal for a new agreement to ensure that the treaty is enforced by all signatories, and chemical terrorist attacks are prevented.

Uzumcu is later expected to meet with officials from the Russian parliament’s upper and lower houses, the Federation Council and the Duma.

He is also scheduled to have meetings at the Industry Ministry and visit a chemical weapons destruction site in Moscow.