OPCW chief meets with Afghanistan’s Karzai to discuss chemical weapons nonproliferation

Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü recently met with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan H.E. Hekmat Kahlil Karzai to discuss advancing the goals of the Chemical Weapons Convention.

While meeting at OPCW Headquarters in The Hague, the officials discussed a wide range of OPCW issues, including counterterrorism efforts on the use of chemical weapons and nonproliferation. Additionally, they spoke about international cooperation, assistance and protection, and national implementation of the CWC, which prohibits the use, development, production, stockpiling or transfer of chemical weapons.

“Afghanistan is an important State Party and our discussions today have reaffirmed that the OPCW can rely on Afghanistan’s cooperation in advancing our common goal of chemical disarmament,” Üzümcü said.

Üzümcü said the organization attaches special importance to expanding its training and assistance programs to help build capacity among state parties. Afghanistan joined the CWC in 2003.

“Afghanistan is committed to the full implementation of the CWC and in this regard is ready to work closely with the OPCW,” Karzai said.