Deputy Director-General Mrs Grace Asirwatham with H.E. Ms. Sofia Arkelsten, Chairperson of the Standing Committee for Foreign Affairs of the Swedish Parliament.
The Chairperson of the Standing Committee for Foreign Affairs of the Swedish Parliament, H.E. Ms. Sofia Arkelsten, visited the OPCW today and met with the Deputy Director-General, Mrs. Grace Asirwatham.
The Deputy Director-General updated the Chairperson on the status of implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and on the OPCW’s efforts to achieve universal adherence to the CWC. She briefed Ms Arkelsten on global progress in the destruction of stockpiles of chemical weapons, including the ongoing mission to eliminate Syrian chemical weapons. The Deputy Director-General expressed appreciation for the strong support of the Swedish Government to the activities of the OPCW.
The Chairperson congratulated the OPCW for receiving the 2013 Nobel Prize for Peace and commended the Organisation for its work over the years, including the unprecedented task of overseeing the removal and destruction of Syria’s chemical arsenal. She reiterated Sweden’s full commitment to the Convention and continuing support for the OPCW.