OPCW Deputy Director-General Mrs Grace Asirwatham
The OPCW Deputy Director-General, Mrs Grace Asirwatham, visited Japan from 3 to 5 December 2012 at the invitation of Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She called on the Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Noaki Kazama, and met with senior officials in the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Economy, Trade and Industry, as well as in the Abandoned Chemical Weapons Office, Cabinet Office.
The Deputy Director-General briefed the officials on current OPCW issues and on the activities of the Open Ended Working Group in preparing the 3rd Review Conference, to be held from 8 to 19 April in The Hague. The Japanese authorities expressed appreciation for the success achieved by the OPCW during the past 15 years while also underlining the need for full national implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) by all States Parties and for achieving CWC universality. The officials reiterated Japan’s commitment to promoting the objectives of the Convention and supporting the work of the OPCW.
While in Japan the Deputy Director-General also participated in a round table discussion at the Centre for Promotion of Disarmament and Non-proliferation, and visited an industry facility and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Chemical School.