International seminar dedicated to the problem of chemical weapons dumped at sea started in Vilnius

On 30 September in Vilnius, a seminar, dedicated to the perspectives of international cooperation on solving the problem of chemical weapons dumped at sea, started. The two-day long international seminar is organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania.

The goal of the seminar is to remind about the threat of chemical weapons dumped at sea for the environment, health and safety of people. With the help of this event Lithuania seeks to encourage countries to exchange information on chemicals dumped at sea, results of scientific research and concrete advice on the neutralisation or reduction of this threat.

During the seminar, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Deividas Matulionis indicated that chemical weapons dumped at sea presented an international, multifaceted problem.

‘About 40 countries acknowledged that they were directly or indirectly connected with the problem of chemical weapons dumped at sea. Respectively bigger awareness of the relics of the past has raised concern to governments and the public regarding potential threats to health, safety and marine environment. The Baltic Sea, at which a large amount of various chemical weapons is dumped, is no exception,’ said D.Matulionis.

At international forums Lithuania consistently raises the issue of chemical weapons dumped at sea. The Lithuanian delegation reminded about these topical issues again on the occasion of marking the tenth anniversary of adopting the Chemical Weapons Convention. This year during the Second Review Conference of the Chemical Weapons Convention the Lithuanian delegation submitted a document, encouraging countries to voluntarily cooperate and to exchange information on chemical weapons dumped at sea. It is expected that this event will give another impetus to find appropriate ways of international cooperation on this important issue.

‘Lithuania thinks that challenges, which are raised by dumped chemical weapons should be receiving broader attention of international organisations,’ said D.Matulionis.

Representatives from 27 countries, which are members of the United Nations, European Union, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (or Helsinki Commission), are taking part in the seminar. Representatives from non-governmental organisations and private companies, dealing with chemical weapons dumped at sea, are also participating at/in? the seminar.

Research that was carried out in many countries demonstrates that chemical weapons are dumped at the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the Mediterranean Sea, the North Sea, the Baltic Sea and in other seas. It is known that after the World War II, about 40,000 tons of chemical weapons were dumped at the Baltic Sea. There are about 13,000 tons of toxic warfare materials in the composition of these chemical weapons.