German FM Welcomes Destruction of 500 Tonnes of Toxic Chemicals From Libya

Germany's top diplomat welcomed the destruction of 500 metric tons of chemicals from Libya which could be transformed into weapons.

BERLIN (Sputnik) — German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier welcomed on Friday the destruction in the German city of Muenster of 500 metric tons of precursor chemicals which could be used to synthesize poison gases, delivered from Libya.

"Germany works very specifically together with the international community and with many partners, and helps the Libyan National Unity government to neutralize and dispose of the remnants of the Libyan chemical weapons program in accordance with the environmental safety standards," Steinmeier told journalists.

It is crucial to prevent toxic chemicals from falling into the wrong hands and, by doing this, to contribute to the security of Germany, Europe and Libya, he added.

Dangerous chemical materials were transported from Libya by the two Danish vessels, while the task of destruction of the dangerous substances lies with the German state company for chemical weapons disposal GEKA in Muenster.

In July, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution which allows states to receive, take away and destroy Libyan chemical weapons. The resolution refers to a second category of substances under the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction.

The process of Libyan chemical weapons destruction takes place under the supervision of the secretariat and the member countries of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.