Foreign Ministry announcement on the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the creation of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Greece welcomes the Organisation's invaluable work in the effort to prohibit and destroy chemical weapons throughout the world.

The use of these weapons violates international legality and contravenes the principles and values that characterize our modern democratic culture.

As one of the first countries that signed and ratified the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction, Greece firmly supports non-proliferation and disarmament efforts.

The international community needs to make every effort to achieve the Convention's goals.

As a factor for stability and security, Greece will continue to contribute to the OPCW's work, remaining dedicated to the principles of international law and the values of Humanism.

Greece directly condemns any chemical weapons attack and has repeatedly stressed in the past that the use of chemical weapons is an illegal and criminal act.

April 27, 2017