Fiji will continue to support the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in its global efforts to permanently eliminate chemical weapons.

Permanent Secretary for Ministry of National Security, Osea Cawaru reiterated this when delivering Fiji’s statement to the Review Conference for the OPCW.

The Review Conference occurs once every five years and is an opportunity for all parties to set a strategic direction for the next five years and beyond.

Cawaru says Fiji is working towards signing the Privileges and Immunities Agreement next year.

“Like other developing countries, Fiji fully recognizes and understands the importance of establishing partnership with regional and sub- regional States Parties to ensure effective implementation of the Convention. Fiji believes that close engagement with other States Parties in areas of information sharing and common interests could assist States Parties in the full enactment of the Convention.”

Cawaru also briefly spoke on the challenges Fiji faces when it comes to the different implementation process of the chemical convention.