OPCW Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü (right) welcomes Croatian President H.E. Mr Ivo Josipović to the OPCW on 30 October 2013.
The President of the Republic of Croatia, H.E. Mr Ivo Josipović, visited the OPCW headquarters today for a meeting with the Director-General, Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü, and senior OPCW staff members.
Director-General Üzümcü provided President Josipović an overview of the OPCW’s work in implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), including the Joint OPCW-UN Mission in Syria to verify and destroy the country’s chemical arsenal. He commended Croatia for its commitment to the Convention and active support for the OPCW, and President Josipović affirmed that Croatia will continue to actively and constructively support the goals of the Organisation.
As one of the first States Parties to the CWC, Croatia has long promoted the mission of the OPCW. It regularly organises and participates in a range of activities: in chemical safety and security, national CWC implementation, customs expertise, and the OPCW Associate Programme, among others.
From May 2011 to May 2013 Croatia served as a member of the OPCW’s Executive Council and was elected to host this year’s annual meeting of the Eastern European Group, comprising the CWC National Authorities of 25 Member States in the region. Croatia is now preparing its contribution to the elimination of the Syrian chemical weapons programme.