Ambassador Massari reiterates Italy’s condemnation of the use of chemical weapons

(ANSA) - ROMA, 13 OTT - Italy’s firm condemnation of the use of chemical weapons and its strong support for Ukraine were reiterated by the Italian Ambassador to the Netherlands, Augusto Massari, Permanent Representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), during the 113th session of the Executive Council, held in The Hague. In his remarks, Massari also highlighted the role of the Italian chemical industry—the seventh largest in the world in terms of size and revenue—and confirmed Italy’s willingness to engage in dialogue on pending issues, with the aim of bridging differences among delegations and strengthening the Organization’s effectiveness. Among the proposals examined is the introduction, starting in 2027, of a new OPCW system for designating laboratories tasked with analyzing authentic samples containing biotoxins used for non-peaceful purposes. On this issue, the Ambassador emphasized that Italy “is willing to discuss and engage with other delegations regarding a possible solution to the differing positions on this matter.” The Council’s deliberations addressed developments in the conflict in Ukraine, the normalization process in Syria, and the civil war in Sudan, with particular attention to issues related to chemical weapons. As part of the discussions on Syria, reference was also made to the destruction, in August, of 42 aircraft bombs linked to the Assad regime’s chemical weapons program.
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