OPCW Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü
Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü was re-appointed by acclamation today for a second term of office as OPCW Director-General at the 18th Session of the Conference of State Parties.
“I wish to express my sincere gratitude to all States Parties for the trust and confidence that is reflected in their decision to reappoint me as Director-General of the OPCW for a second term,” he said. “On my part, I renew to you my pledge to serve this Organisation with my full commitment, complete dedication, and to the best of my ability.”
In his opening statement to the conference, the Director-General called 2013 “a truly historical year” that witnessed an unprecedented challenge for the OPCW in the form of eliminating Syria’s chemical weapons in the midst of an active war. He added that the Nobel Committee’s decision to award the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize to the OPCW is “a clear recognition of 16 years of past achievement of the OPCW, representing a valuable contribution to global peace and security (that) will inspire us in our ongoing and future work.”
Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü has served as OPCW Director-General since 25 July 2010. Prior to this appointment he represented Turkey at the United Nations Office and Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Council. A career diplomat with vast experience in multilateral diplomacy, Ambassador Üzümcü has a thorough understanding of political-military affairs and disarmament and proliferation issues.