Ahmet Uzumcu, director general of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), addressed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Conference on Weapons of Mass Destruction Arms Control Disarmament in Slovenia on Wednesday regarding security challenges facing the OPCW.
Speaking before a conference of more than 100 senior officials from more than 50 NATO member nations, Uzumcu summarized the current status of OPCW activities in the Syrian Arab Republic and addressed the organization’s approach to countering possible chemical weapons use. While some progress has been made thus far, Uzumcu said that the re-emergence of chemical weapons in the area remains of great concern to the OPCW.
“In recognition of the growing challenge of chemical terrorism, the OPCW’s cooperation with NATO and other international and regional organizations is essential to hinder the ambitions of non-state actors that may wish to develop and use chemical weapons,” Uzumcu said.
Uzumcu also met with top Slovenian officials, including Secretary of Foreign Affairs Darja Bavdaz Kuret, Secretary of Defense Milos Bizjak and the Director of the Chemicals Office Alojz Grabner. Uzumcu provided briefings on the latest developments regarding the OPCW’s activities in Syria while expressing his appreciation of Slovenia’s strong support of the Chemical Weapons Convention.