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Disarmament DiplomacyIssue No. 62, January - February 2002News ReviewUnpaid Dues Plague OPCWOn January 15, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) - the implementing authority for the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), based in The Hague - warned that an accumulation of unpaid dues from states parties was adding a serious strain to its operations. Welcoming the payment of Poland's assessed contribution to the Organisation's 2002 budget, an OPCW press statement noted that the "total number of member states that have paid their contribution in full for the current financial year stands at 41 [out of 145]. However welcome these contributions are, they equal only 17.3% of the...budget". The statement continued: "The Director-General of the OPCW, Jose M. Bustani, thanked Poland for its timely payment, and urged the other member states to follow suit as soon as possible. ... The timely payment by each member state of its annual contribution is essential if the OPCW is to pursue its mandate effectively and efficiently." Reports: OPCW wants unpaid dues, Global Security Newswire, January 15; Poland pays its contribution to the OPCW's 2002 budget, OPCW Press Release 02/2002, January 15. © 2002 The Acronym Institute. |