this annual day of remembrance is designated by the international community to remember and pay respects to all victims of chemical warfare.

今天是国际社会指定的化学战受害者纪念日，每年我们都在这一天对他们表达敬意和缅怀之情。

this year’s observance is especially timely, as the spectre of chemical weapons is once again casting its ominous shadow. recent allegations of the use of these indiscriminate and morally repugnant weapons in syria serve as a reminder of the continuing vital importance of the chemical weapons convention.

鉴于当前化学武器的不详阴影再次出现，今年的纪念日来得尤为及时。最近有指控显示，在叙利亚境内使用了这种滥杀无辜、严重违反道义的武器。它提醒我们时至今日《化学武器公约》依然十分重要。

the convention is both practical and aspirational. it provides a framework for implementing chemical weapons disarmament and facilitating the peaceful uses of chemistry. it is also a highly symbolic instrument -- representing a determined refusal of states parties to allow the atrocities of the past to be repeated.

《化武公约》既切合实际又富于理想。公约已经成为削减化学武器及和平利用化学的法律框架。公约同样具有高度的象征意义，它体现了全体缔约国拒绝历史上大屠杀事件再次重演的坚定决心。

at the time of last year’s day of remembrance, nearly three-quarters of declared chemical warfare agents had been verifiably destroyed. this year, the figure stands close to 80 per cent. this continuing progress is a testament to the effectiveness of the convention and the work of the organisation for the prohibition of chemical weapons.

截至去年的纪念日，世界上将近四分之三的申报化学战剂已经通过可核查的方式进行销毁。今年，这一数字已接近达到80%。销毁工作继续取得新的成就不仅证明了公约的效力，也证明了禁止化学武器组织的重要工作。

but, as current events attest, we must stay vigilant. the threat of chemical weapons persists, and eight states remain outside the convention. until the convention is universal and the last stockpiles have been destroyed, our debt to the victims of chemical warfare will remain unpaid.

但是，当前的事件证明，我们绝不能放松警惕。化学武器的威胁依然存在，还有八个国家没有加入公约。只有到所有国家加入公约和所有化学战剂被销毁之时，我们才能说已经偿还了我们对化学战所有受害者的欠债。

on this remembrance day, i urge the international community to intensify efforts to rid the world of chemical weapons, along with all other weapons of mass destruction. let us work together to bring all states under the convention and promote its full implementation. this is how we can best honour past victims and liberate future generations from the threat of chemical weapons.

值此纪念日，我敦促国际社会为消除化学武器以及其他所有大规模杀伤性武器而加紧努力。让我们携手合作，实现所有国家遵守公约和全面执行公约的目标。这就是我们纪念化学战受害者的最好方式，也只有这样今世后代才能摆脱化学武器的威胁。