Finland Times

 

Containers holding chemical waste arrive to Ekokem's hazardous waste treatment plant in Riihimäki, Finland on June 25, 2014. Ekokem AB of Finland has started to process and destroy part of Syria's chemical weapons stockpile. File Photo Lehtikuva.

Finland wanted to contribute to measures supporting Libya's stabilisation and to help ensure that WMD materials do not fall into the wrong hands by participating in the Libya operation, according to a press release of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

 

In the spring of 2016, Libya requested support from the international community in removing the remaining chemical weapon precursors from the country. The task has been prepared during the summer in the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), said the release issued on Friday.

 

The operation is led by the OPCW and it is based on UN Resolution 2298 (2016), adopted by the Security Council.  

 

Finland has long-term experience of participation in the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). Finland is active in arms control matters and in efforts to prevent CBRN threats (chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats).

 

Participation in this work supports Nordic cooperation and maintenance and development of Finland's national expertise. Finland also contributed to the removal of Syria’s chemical weapons programme, the press release mentioned.

 

Finland was from the start among the countries that participated in the planning and execution of the task. The country helped the naval operation, led by Denmark, by posting two officers for advisory and expert positions. It also supported the destruction of the remaining chemical weapon precursors by EUR 500,000 via the OPCW.

 

Chemical weapon precursors were removed from Libya on 27 August 2016. Finnish experts participated in the operation from 22 August to 2 September 2016.

 

Alongside Denmark and Finland, assistance to the operation was provided by Germany, Spain, Canada, Italy, Malta, France, the United Kingdom and the United States. The materials will be eliminated in Germany.