The Hague:The State of Qatar took part in the 113th session of the Executive Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), held in The Hague, Netherlands.

According to Qatar News Agency, Qatar's delegation was led by Ambassador Dr. Mutlaq bin Majed Al Qahtani, who is also the country's Permanent Representative to the OPCW. In his address, Dr. Al Qahtani emphasized that temporary solutions to crises or unresolved conflicts do not contribute to long-term stability. He advocated for dialogue grounded in international law and respect for state sovereignty as essential tools for resolving conflicts.

He expressed Qatar's concern over the humanitarian crisis in the occupied Palestinian territories, as well as ongoing regional conflicts that threaten civilian safety, navigation freedom, and energy supplies. Dr. Al Qahtani underscored the necessity of non-selective application of international law and the protection of critical infrastructure from attacks, which he described as violations of international humanitarian law.

Dr. Al Qahtani reiterated Qatar's firm opposition to the use of chemical weapons and highlighted the need to address related issues through the Chemical Weapons Convention's mechanisms, ensuring the prevention of chemical terrorism and misuse of artificial intelligence in weaponization. He also stressed the importance of international cooperation in promoting peaceful chemical applications and building the capacities of States Parties.

Furthermore, Dr. Al Qahtani called for the responsible use of emerging technologies to support the Convention's implementation, emphasizing education, awareness, and responsible science to achieve its universal objectives.