Czech Republic beats Russia in race for OPCW Executive Council, announces 'convincing' result

On November 26, President of the 29th Conference of Member States of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Almir Shakhovich confirmed that the two seats of the Eastern European group on the Executive Council were assigned to North Macedonia and the Czech Republic.

OPCW headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands. (Source: TASS)

According to TASS news agency, Russia failed to win a seat on the OPCW Executive Council for the 2025-2027 term when it received only 56 votes in favor, while North Macedonia and the Czech Republic received 86 and 128 votes, respectively.

On the same day, the Czech Foreign Ministry issued a statement stating: "Czech is proud of its convincing victory in today's vote, joining North Macedonia in the OPCW Executive Council."

The Czech Republic held the OPCW Executive Council chair in 2018-2019. Meanwhile, in November 2023, Russia also failed to receive enough votes from the 193 member states of the OPCW to remain on the organization's Executive Council after its term expires in May 2024.

The OPCW, headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, was established in 1997 to oversee compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention. The OPCW Executive Council is the governing body of the organization, consisting of 41 member states elected by the Conference of the Parties for two-year terms.

Countries are elected to the Council based on the principles of equitable geographical distribution, the importance of the chemical industry and political and security interests.

The OPCW Governing Council co-oversees the activities of the OPCW Technical Secretariat and is responsible for promoting effective implementation and compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).

Earlier, on November 25, speaking at the conference, Head of the Russian delegation - Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Kirill Lysogorsky stated that Moscow's exclusion from the Governing Council has created barriers to open discussion and information exchange, and only reduces the role and influence of the OPCW, which is considered the most effective means to combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/czech-thang-nga-trong-cuoc-dua-vao-hoi-dong-dieu-hanh-opcw-ra-tuyen-bo-ve-ket-qua-thuyet-phuc-295234.html