Chemical weapons committee of the Kingdom holds its first meeting

Manama : Bahrain will support all efforts to disarm and prevent the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), a top Bahraini official said yesterday.  

This came as the National Committee on the Prohibition of Development, Production, Stockpiling or Use of Chemical Weapon and the destruction of such weapons held its first meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The meeting was chaired by Undersecretary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Shaikha Rana bint Isa bin Daij Al Khalifa. 

“Weapons of Mass Destruction are the main pressing threats to humanity and international peace and security,” Dr Shaikha Rana told the meeting adding:  “It is important to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes as long as it fully complies with the agreements signed with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).”

In this regard, the Undersecretary also called for promoting international cooperation in intelligence-sharing and to develop infrastructure with qualified equipment, technology and legislation. 

The meeting, as per the Edict No 37 of 2017, authorised the committee to follow-up the implementation of all agreements, treaties, protocols and the Security Council resolutions signed, including that with the International Atomic Energy Agency. 

The Committee, which will act as the contact point for international organisations and agencies involved in prohibiting weapons of mass destruction, also elected Brigadier Sameer Ahmed Al-Zayani as its  Vice-Chairman. 

The committee was restructured with the following members: Fatema Abdulla Fares Aldhaen, Director of Organizations Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Brigadier Samir Al Zayani from the Bahrain Defence Force, Dr Jassim Al Mehza from the Ministry of Health,  Colonel Hamad Al Kaabi, representative of the General Directorate of Civil Defense, Ministry of Interior, Abdulrahman bin Daij Al Khalifa, representative of Customs Affairs at the Ministry of Interior, Faihan Mohammed Al-Faihani, representative of Energy, Electricity and Water Authority, representative of the National Oil and Gas Authority, Shaikh Hamad Bin Salman Al Khalifa, representative of the Ministry Of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Prof. Dr. Mohammed Al-Sayed, representative of the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning, Abbas Al-Mahrous, representative of the Supreme Council for the Environment and Dr. Abdullah Faisal Al-Shater representative of the University of Bahrain.