The Hague: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is actively participating in the 29th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention, held in The Hague from November 25 to 28. The Saudi delegation is led by Director-General of the National Authority for the Implementation of the Chemical and Biological Weapons Conventions, Ambassador Dr. Maan Alhafiz, and includes Chargé d’Affaires at the Saudi embassy in the Netherlands, Prince Jalawi bin Turki, along with members of the Kingdom’s permanent delegation to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
According to Saudi Press Agency, Ambassador Alhafiz reiterated the Kingdom’s steadfast commitment to fostering international cooperation aimed at banning all weapons of mass destruction and preventing their proliferation. He emphasized Saudi Arabia’s efforts to establish the Middle East as a zone free from such weapons. Alhafiz condemned the use of chemical weapons and toxic substances in any circumstances, labeling them
as egregious violations of the convention and international law.
Alhafiz also voiced Saudi Arabia’s denunciation of Israel’s continued breaches of international law, including acts of genocide against Palestinians. He called on nations to join the international coalition supporting the two-state solution. This coalition, initiated by Saudi Arabia along with the Arab-Islamic Joint Ministerial Committee, Norway, and the European Union, recently convened its first meeting in Saudi Arabia.
Furthermore, Alhafiz condemned Israeli military operations targeting Lebanese territories and threats to Lebanon’s security, stability, and sovereignty. He stressed the importance of destroying old and abandoned chemical stockpiles to achieve a world free of chemical weapons.
Alhafiz highlighted the critical role of the OPCW in maintaining international peace and security. He underscored the organization’s mission, which is becoming increasingly vital in light of emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, w
hich present new societal challenges.
