UK’s minister of state visits OPCW

Minister of State of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Joyce Anne Anelay, Baroness Anelay of St John’s, met with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Director-General Ahmet Uzumcu at the Hague on Thursday.

Uzumcu detailed the many contributions the United Kingdom made in the negotiations leading to the conclusion of the Chemical Weapons Convention and its continued support for the OPCW. Additionally, Anelay was briefed on the progress made towards the goals of the convention as well as the OPCW’s work in Syria and the ongoing priorities of the organization.

“I am pleased to have visited the OPCW today and to have met with Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü,” Anelay said. “We discussed the vital work the OPCW is carrying out to rid the world of chemical weapons, including the investigations to address the ongoing use of toxic chemicals as weapons in Syria.”

The baroness’s delegation included Sir Geoffrey Adams, permanent representative of the United Kingdom to the OPCW, Rebecca Sagar, deputy permanent representative of the United Kingdom to the OPCW, and Beth Carson, assistant private secretary to Anelay.