Blanar: Slovakia's Election to OPCW Council a Great Success for Our Diplomacy

Bratislava/The Hague, 29 November (TASR) – Slovakia's election to the Executive Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) confirms the trust that the international community places in the Slovak Republic as a country supporting dialogue, international law and the effort to achieve a world free of chemical weapons, Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar declared on Saturday. TASR learnt the news from the ministry's press department. In Tuesday's (25 November) secret ballot, Slovakia secured one of the three seats on the OPCW Executive Council allocated to the Eastern European region for the May 2026-2028 period. Blanar described the election as a success for Slovak diplomacy and recognition of the country's active participation in multilateral organisations, where Slovakia has long promoted the values of cooperation and security. The ministry stated that Slovakia will actively contribute to the implementation and observance of the Chemical Weapons Convention, regarded as one of the most successful instruments of global disarmament and the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. "I am convinced that our membership in the Executive Council will further highlight Slovakia's expertise in this area and open new opportunities to bolster our work in support of international security," the foreign minister said. "At a time when we are witnessing the erosion of international law and the weakening of global rules, it is essential for the Slovak Republic to remain active in international organisations. This is why Slovakia continues to increase its visibility and presence in multilateral structures," Blanar added. mf