Madam Chair,

Germany aligns itself with the statement of the European Union.

This year marks the 50^th anniversary of entry into force of the Biological Weapons Convention and the 100^th anniversary of the 1925 Geneva Protocol. Both treaties remain very relevant to this day. In the past two-and-a-half years, five states have joined the BWC and one the 1925 Geneva Protocol.

Germany remains fully committed to the strengthening the BWC. Rapid developments in science and biotechnology, often in convergence with AI, have lowered the threshold to develop and produce novel biological weapons. The BWC is not equipped to respond to these risks. In particular, a mechanism to review and assess scientific and technological developments and provide expertise to States Parties for subsequent decisions, but also verification tools are urgently needed. Germany welcomes the important work undertaken so far by the BWC Working Group under Brazil’s stewardship.

As a key contributor to training measures for experts and laboratories nominated by UN members to the UN Secretary-General Mechanism for investigation of alleged use of chemical and biological weapons, Germany aims to support the operational readiness of this mechanism. It is important that the UNSGM remains independent.

Madam Chair,

The prohibition of chemical weapons has come under increasing pressure. Russia’s uses of Riot Control Agents and the forbidden choking agent chloropicrin in its war of aggression against Ukraine are blatant violations of the Chemical Weapons Convention and must stop immediately. Holding Russia accountable is crucial in order to uphold the global norm against the use of chemical weapons.

Madam Chair,

The fall of the Assad regime has opened up the opportunity to fully destroy all remnants of the former regime’s chemical weapons programme. Germany commends the clear commitment of the new Syrian authorities to cooperating with the OPCW and fulfilling Syria’s obligations under the Convention. We also highly appreciate the continued deployment of OPCW missions to Syria. Significant proliferation risks remain until all sites are secured and all CW-relevant chemicals, munitions and equipment are destroyed. Germany, as a member of the G7 Global Partnership against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction, stands ready to support this important effort.

Thank you.