OPCW in a changing environment – Promoting security and cooperation, Opening address by H.E. Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü, Director-General of the OPCW

The Technical Secretariat is pleased to provide details of the seminar on the OPCW’s contribution to security and the non-proliferation of chemical weapons and to invite representatives of the National Authorities, national institutions, international organisations, chemical industry, laboratories, non-governmental organisations, and the scientific and academic communities to attend the seminar. The seminar will take place on 11 and 12 April 2011 at the OPCW Headquarters in The Hague, the Netherlands.

Financial support for the seminar is being provided under European Union (EU) Council Decision 2009 on support for OPCW activities in the framework of the implementation of the EU Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (2009/569/CFSP, dated 27 July 2009).

The overall objective of the seminar is to promote the implementation of the Convention, recognising the changing chemical weapons threat, and to facilitate international cooperation in key areas relevant to the non-proliferation objectives of the Convention through building synergies and strengthening a collaborative framework between the OPCW and all stakeholders of the Convention, including the following:

(b) governmental agencies that are involved in the implementation of Convention-related requirements, including the monitoring or supervision of activities in the sphere of national implementation and control of toxic and precursor chemicals;

(c) the chemical industry, including chemical associations (for example the European Chemical Industry Council and the International Council of Chemical Associations); and  

(d) private-sector chemical companies from Member States and signatory States.

Those wishing to participate in the seminar are invited to complete the application/registration form that is annexed hereto, which can also be downloaded from the OPCW website

Completed forms should be addressed to Mr Krzysztof Paturej, Director of the Office of Special Projects (OSP), who is responsible for the overall coordination of the preparations by the Secretariat and for the conduct and programme of the seminar (address: Johan de Wittlaan 32, 2517 JR The Hague, the Netherlands; e-mail: kpaturej@opcw.org). Applications should be submitted by e-mail or fax to Ms Nadezda Malyutina, Senior Secretary (OSP), who can be reached by telephone: +31 (0)70 416 3492; fax: +31 (0)70 416 3499; e-mail: nmalyutina@opcw.org. All applications must be received by the Secretariat no later than 4 March 2011.