OPCW Director-General Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü (right) and the President of the Republic of Belarus, H.E. Mr Aleksandr Lukashenko. Photo: Website of the President of Belarus
In a visit to Minsk on 19 May the OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü, was received by the President of the Republic of Belarus, H.E. Mr Aleksandr Lukashenko. He had separate meetings with H.E. Mr Vladimir Makei, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and with the Minister for Emergencies, H.E. Mr. Vladimir Vashchenko.
The Director-General provided the President and Ministers an overview of the OPCW’s work in implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), including the mission to destroy Syria’s chemical weapons programme and progress toward eliminating chemical stockpiles globally. He commended the commitment of Belarus to the CWC and asked for its engagement and support in the OPCW’s continuing efforts to achieve universality, with only six countries now remaining outside of the treaty. The President and Ministers assured the Director-General of the continued commitment and support of Belarus to the work of the Organisation.
While visiting Minsk, the Director-General delivered a lecture to students of the Belarussian State University on the achievements and challenges of the OPCW, and participated in a roundtable discussion with representatives of Belarussian science and industry. He also toured the Institute for Retraining and Professional Development and a mobile laboratory of the State Border Committee, and observed a demonstration by a rescue squad of the Ministry of Emergencies.