Malta part of operation to remove Libya's stockpile of toxic chemicals

Libya's remaining stockpile of toxic chemicals has been successfully transported abroad in an operation aimed at keeping them safe from militants, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has said. 

The chemical weapons watchdog said that hundreds of tons of industrial chemicals had been transported out of Libya after the country asked for help in destroying the chemicals over security concerns.

The foreign affairs ministry said that Malta’s participation in the operation was in line with its obligations as a member of the OPCW, and because Malta had an interest in ensuring that these materials did not fall into the hands of people who would use them against the citizens of Libya as well as those of neighbouring countries.

It stressed that the tons of chemicals that were removed were at no point brought to Malta.  In the weeks running up to the operation Malta did however agree to accept a number of small samples of the materials which were brought over and then transferred by plane to another country for testing. All stages of the operation were coordinated by officials from the OPCW. The samples were packed individually in a series of packets that ensured that at no time would there be any danger of the material in these samples coming in contact with the environment. 

Malta’s decision to participate in this way was taken after discussion with chemical specialists together with representatives from a number of ministries including Home Affairs, Justice and the Environment, and the Health ministry. Malta’s participation was also a part of the countries international responsibilities.

Malta’s also agreed to provide medical assistance in the remote case of an incident during the transit of the chemicals from Libya to Malta. Assurances were given by officials of the OPCW that in the event of an incident, any patients brought to Malta would have been detoxified before being transferred to Malta.  

Malta took part in this operation alongside Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK and the US.