About Us Press Releases
  • Home ›   Press Releases

Indias statement at the 57th Meeting of the Executive Council of the OPCW to discuss the Salisbury Incident

Posted on: April 06, 2018 | Back | Print

 

Press Release
April 5, 2018 

Investigations of alleged use of chemical weapons should be conducted strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention, states India at a special session of the Executive Council of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) convened to discuss the Salisbury incident

India has stated that all investigations of alleged use of chemical weapons should be conducted strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). It has also urged that all provisions of the Convention be utilized to address concerns in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Convention, so as to reach evidence based conclusions.

The above statement was made by Ambassador and PR to OPCW, H.E. Mr. Venu Rajamony at the special session of the Executive Council of OPCW convened at the request of Russia to discuss the Salisbury incident. In his intervention, Ambassador Venu Rajamony said India has taken note of the allegations about the recent use of chemical weapons in the United Kingdom. Any use of chemical weapons is in complete disregard of humanity, and is reprehensible and contrary to the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention as well as accepted international legal norms. India is against the use of chemical weapons anywhere, at any time, by anybody, under any circumstances.

The CWC is a unique non-discriminatory multilateral instrument which continues to serve as a model disarmament treaty.  It is important to maintain the credibility and integrity of the Convention.  India, as all other countries, should await the outcome of the investigation, he said.

Full text of the Ambassador’s statement to the special session of the EC of OPCW is attached.

Irine Parimanam

Media Officer