Üzümcü meets with Finland’s Stenlund to discuss CWC implementation

Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Director General Ahmet Üzümcü met with Finland’s Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs H.E. Peter Stenlund at OPCW headquarters in The Hague on Friday to discuss aspects of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).

The two officials met to discuss various aspects of the CWC’s implementation, which included destroying stores of Syrian chemical weapons and the removal of remaining weapons from Libya. Üzümcü gave an overview of priorities the OPCW is focusing on, as well as countermeasures that could be taken if a chemical weapon is used by a non-state actor.

“I am grateful for Finland’s unflinching support for the OPCW,” Üzümcü said. “Finland’s contributions to the missions to remove and destroy Syria’s chemical weapons program and the final remnants of Libya’s former chemical weapons program again demonstrates Finland’s strong support for the CWC. Similarly, the efforts of Finnish Institute for Verification of the Chemical Weapons Convention (VERIFIN) to train chemists across the globe demonstrates sustained commitment to ensuring peaceful uses of chemistry for all.”

Stenlund said that Finland has been an active member in CWC implementation, training more than 1,300 chemists in more than 130 nations on safe chemical weapons destruction.

“Finland will continue to play an important role as a vocal promoter of the CWC in the future,” Stenlund said.