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Distinguished Participants,

At the outset let me extend to all of you a cordial welcome to Vilnius.

The issue of Dumped Chemical Weapons at Seas is an international and multifaceted problem. Around 40 states have already acknowledged that a problem of sea-dumped chemical weapons directly or indirectly relates to them. Accordingly, greater awareness of the past disposals has triggered a growing concern among governments and the public about their potential risks to human health, safety, and the marine environment. In this regard, the Baltic Sea is not an exemption where a considerable amount of different chemical weapons have been dumped.

This International Seminar on Perspectives of International Cooperation with regard to Sea-dumped Chemical Weapons gathered today representatives and experts from around 30 countries, international and non-governmental organizations. This clearly testifies to the significance of the subject under consideration.

A number of international organizations and frameworks deal directly or indirectly with the issue of sea-dumped chemical weapons. The Chemical Weapons Convention is the key international instrument of effective and comprehensive prohibition of the development, production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons. A decision on whether to declare sea-dumped chemical weapons the Convention leaves at the discretion of the States Parties. At this stage, it still remains to be seen what actions States Parties might choose to take in the future and how the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons would get involved.

Lithuania is of the opinion that the challenges posed by sea-dumped chemical weapons should receive a broader coverage within international organizations and frameworks. Consequently, we will be seeking your cooperation and support with a view to responding, as appropriate, to these challenges. Because of their eventual environmental and health impact on communities, sea-dumped chemical weapons should also be subject to increased scrutiny by the public opinion, and various activities in this sphere should be promoted as well.

Dear Participants, I hope that the Seminar will lead us to a free flow of discussions and to exchange of relevant information and ideas, which, in their turn, will result in further cooperative steps. With these brief introductory remarks, I should like to declare the seminar open and to wish all the best for its work.

Thank you.