Director-General Visits the UK for High-Level Meetings, Addresses the Royal Society of Chemistry and Wilton Park

The Director-General of the OPCW, Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü, paid an official visit to the United Kingdom on 17 and 18 March 2011. During his visit he met senior officials in the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), addressed the Royal Society of Chemistry and inaugurated an international conference at Wilton Park. 

In his meeting with Lord Howell, Minister of State, the Director-General briefed him on the status of implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention. Lord Howell showed keen interest in the progress made by the OPCW and underlined the importance of its mission in eliminating the threat of chemical weapons from the world. He also conveyed the decision of his government to provide a voluntary contribution in support of the OPCW Conference on International Cooperation, Safety & Security which will be held in The Hague in September 2011 to commemorate the International Year of Chemistry.  The Director-General expressed his appreciation for the consistent and firm support of the UK for the Convention and for the work of the OPCW.

During the meeting with Mr Robert Hannigan, Director General for Defence and Intelligence, they exchanged views on matters of mutual interest focusing especially on avenues for further cooperation in strengthening the global ban on chemical weapons.

The Director-General also had detailed discussions with the CWC Whitehall Policy Group, which comprises governmental representatives with responsibilities relating to the Convention. The Group was led in the discussions by Ms Jill Morris, Head of the Counter Proliferation Department of the FCO.

In his address to the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) the Director-General examined the imperative of a harmonious relationship between progress in science and the pursuit of peace, for which the Chemical Weapons Convention represents an outstanding example. He praised the contribution of the Royal Society towards both objectives and noted that the International Year of Chemistry provides a unique opportunity for governments, the OPCW, civil society institutions such as the RSC, and the global chemical industry to forge stronger bonds aimed at human progress in conditions of peace and security.

The Director-General travelled to Wilton Park on 18 March to deliver his keynote address at the inauguration of a two-day Conference on “Chemical Weapons Disarmament and the Future of the OPCW”.