Mr. Chairperson,

Mr. Director General,

Distinguished Delegates,

At the outset, I would
like to thank Chairperson, H.E. Lucian Fatu of Romania for his guidance of the
Council. I would like to express my Delegation’s full support to him in
steering the Executive Council.

I also would also like to commend the Director-General, H.E. Ambassador
Fernando Arias for his leadership of the OPCW Secretariat in fulfilling the
mandate of the Organization.

The OPCW and the Chemical Weapons Convention remain crucial pillars of
the global disarmament and non-proliferation regime. This is exactly why the
Organization should be provided the necessary resources to continue its
effective implementation of the tasks under the Convention. On the other hand,
the Organization should spare no effort to make savings wherever possible. We
thank co-facilitators of biennium Programme & Budget as well as Technical
Secretariat for their efforts on addressing issues raised by States Parties
through a facilitation mechanism.

We welcome the continued
dialogue on issues such as Geographical Representation, Tenure Policy and
Engagement with Civil Society, building on the progress made at the 5^th
Review Conference. We call on all States Parties to maintain the constructive
approach that was reached at the RevCon.

In the way forward, we have to deal
with issues of significance including the growing threat of chemical terrorism
and universalization of the organization. In this respect, we attach high importance
to the work of the Open-Ended Working Group on Terrorism chaired by Ambassador
of South Africa H.E. Vusimuzi Philemon Madonsela. We will continue to actively
and concretely support its activities including the Table-Top Exercise.

Completion of the destruction of the
all declared chemical weapons was a significant achievement. However, the
destruction mandate of the OPCW cannot be considered complete unless all
chemical weapons stockpiles in the world are brought under the authority of the
Convention. In this respect, ensuring the universality of the Convention is of
key importance.

On many occasions,
Türkiye has emphasized the importance of accountability and prevention of
impunity of the perpetrators of chemical weapons use. On the 10^th
year we express our support for the work of the OPCW and its Syria missions in
addressing the gaps and inconsistencies in its declarations of chemical weapons
as well as establishing the facts on the allegations of chemical weapons use
and the perpetrators.

We support Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Since the
outset of the war,we have been consistent in our view thata
legitimate and just peace depends on diplomacy. In addition to our efforts for
the Black Sea Grain Deal, Türkiye is supporting the current reconstruction
efforts and leading the Food Security Working Group.

We reiterate that any use of
chemical weapons anywhere, at any time, by anyone, under any circumstances is
unacceptable.

Türkiye will continue to
extend its full support and cooperation to the effective implementation of the
Convention.

I kindly request that
this statement be issued as an official document of this session and be placed
on the public website. Thank
you.