OPCW Director-General Addresses IUPAC Congress in Turin, Italy

On 5 August 2007, Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter, the Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), addressed the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) at the opening of its 41st World Chemistry Congress in Turin, Italy.

Logo of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC)

Co-chairing the session, held on 6 August 2007, devoted to the theme “duality of chemistry for both useful purposes and chemical weapons” with Professor Alberto Fratadocchi, Director-General Pfirter commended IUPAC’s prestigious history of advancing education and research in pure and applied chemistry, ensuring that its applications are used exclusively to benefit mankind. He recalled that IUPAC’s experts had informed the negotiations of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), as well as providing guidance and expertise in the preparation of both the 2003 Review Conference and the forthcoming 2008 Review Conference.

In his keynote address, Director-General Pfirter underscored the OPCW’s and IUPAC’s common endeavour to promote peace and security through chemical disarmament and peaceful chemistry, noting that scientists and chemical engineers play a vital role in the effective enforcement of the chemical weapons ban and achieving a chemical-weapons-free world.

Calling upon scientists to establish a stringent code of conduct that will stand the test of time and will anchor the chemical weapons ban in the conscience of all those that deal with these materials, Director-General Pfirter stressed that IUPAC and the OPCW were engaged in a joint project to instil a deep and unshakeable renunciation of chemical weapons among the young so the present and future generations of scientists, engineers, and business people will never hesitate to prevent the misuse of toxic chemicals.

The week-long Congress’ theme is “Chemistry Protecting Health, the Natural Environment and Cultural Heritage” and includes lectures on Italian National Authority’s implementation of the CWC, as well as the CWC’s universality in global chemistry. A workshop was also conducted on the topic of multiple uses of chemicals and chemical weapons and the role for science education in rising awareness.

PR81 / 2007

Categories: Non-proliferation of chemical weapons, Outreach