Director General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) calls on the Foreign Minister

(2012-01-10)

During his first official visit to Pakistan, Ambassador Ahmet Uzumcu, Director General of The Hague–based Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), called on Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar this evening.

During the meeting, the Foreign Minister assured the Director General of Pakistan’s consistent and strong commitment towards fulfilling all its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and the work of the OPCW. She expressed gratitude for OPCW’s collaboration in organizing a Regional Workshop on Electronic Declarations and an International Course on Assistance and Protection in Islamabad in June and October 2011, respectively. The Foreign Minister also expressed gratitude for OPCW’s acceptance of Pakistan’s offer to annually host International Assistance and Protection Courses and to host a Sub-Regional Assistance and Protection Center in Islamabad for the Gulf and South Asian regions.

The OPCW Director General expressed his gratitude for Pakistan’s continued support to the OPCW and its effective implementation of the CWC. He briefed the Foreign Minister on the ongoing and future activities of his Organization, particularly the emerging challenges in the 29 April 2012 post – destruction deadline period.

During his visit, Ambassador Ahmet Uzumcu also held fruitful meetings with the Acting Foreign Secretary, Additional Secretary (UN & EC), Chairman NESCOM and Director General, DESTO. He attended an impressive display of Assistance and Protection equipment. The OPCW Director General delivered a key note address at a Seminar on “Multilateral Cooperation for Security – The Example of CWC” at the Institute of Strategic Studies and also gave a detailed interview to PTV, during which he elaborated future and ongoing activities of the OPCW.

Islamabad
10 January 2012

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