Director-General Visits Thailand and Closes Challenge Inspection Exercise

During his visit on 3 and 4 November 2011, Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü made courtesy calls on ministerial officials in Bangkok and then visited the chemical plant site hosting the Challenge Inspection Field Exercise 2011.  

The Director-General called on H.E. Mr. Jullapong Nonsrichai, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, and on Mr. Chumpol Cheewaprapanunt, Deputy Director-General in the Department of Industrial Works, Ministry of Industry. In these meetings Director-General Üzümcü expressed his deep gratitude for Thailand’s willingness to host the Challenge Inspection Field Exercise despite the national flooding emergency.  The officials assured the Director-General of Thailand’s strong commitment to the Chemical Weapons Convention and of its continued support for the work of the OPCW.

While in Bangkok the Director-General conducted interviews with the Xinhua News Agency, and with leading Thai media to discuss the Challenge Inspection Exercise, including Radio Thailand, National Broadcasting Television’s “Newsline” programme, and the official radio network of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  

In his address at the chemical plant site, the Director-General expressed his solidarity with the Government and people of Thailand in coping with the extensive floods in the country, adding that staging the Challenge Inspection Exercise under such exceptional circumstances underscored the country’s firm commitment to the Chemical Weapons Convention. 

He further noted that in view of the expected reduction of OPCW inspectors in the years ahead, it is necessary to ensure the OPCW remains a strong barrier against chemical weapons and that such exercises make an invaluable contribution to the Technical Secretariat’s efforts as it gears for this transition with fewer resources.