The Director-General noted that the OPCW has conducted 1,670 industrial inspections in more than 80 countries around the world to date.
Turkey hosted a sub-regional seminar organised by the OPCW on “Chemical Industry-Related Issues in the Mediterranean Basin” that was held in Istanbul on 24 and 25 September 2009. Participants from 14 State Parties* attended the seminar, including representatives of various Turkish authorities. Egypt, a State not Party, participated as well.
The OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter, opened the event together with Ms Belgin Ergüneş, Head of the Department for Arms Control and Disarmament, Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who also represented the National Authority, and Mr Dursun Topçu, Deputy Chairman of the Executive Council of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce.
In his opening remarks, Director-General Pfirter described the chemical industry as a central stakeholder in the effective implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and stressed that engagement and cooperation with industry will continue to be a critical aspect of the work of the OPCW Technical Secretariat. The Director-General noted that the OPCW has conducted 1,670 industrial inspections in more than 80 countries around the world to date — an achievement he said would not have been possible without the positive cooperation and understanding of the chemical industry.
The aim of the seminar was to inform and sensitise chemical industry representatives in the sub-region about the CWC, and to better understand the issues and challenges for industry in complying with the provisions of the Convention. The seminar was also an opportunity to inform State Parties about the new initiatives being undertaken by the Technical Secretariat on a range of Article VI issues, including enhancement of the inspection regime for Other Chemical Production Facilities (OCPFs) producing phosphorus, sulphur and fluorine or PSFs.
* Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, France, Greece, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Spain, Turkey and Yemen.
OPCW NEWS 42/2009