Putin urges all states to eliminate chemical weapons

President Vladimir Putin has called on all countries to destroy their chemical weapons stockpiles, following the example of Russia. He sent greetings to the delegates of the 22nd Session of the Conference of the States Parties of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). “We call on the countries which have chemical weapons to follow our example and make every effort to complete soon the elimination of their remaining stockpiles,” Putin said. He urged the countries which are outside the international and legal framework of the convention to immediately join it, TASS reported. The last batch of Russia’s chemical weapons was destroyed on September 27, Putin said, adding that this was “an important step towards a more responsible and stable world.”