The OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü, with the Minister of Health, Ms Milojka Kolar Celarc.
The OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü, visited Slovenia from 24-26 May. During his visit, the Director-General met Ms Milojka Kolar Celarc, Minister of Health; Ms Andreja Katič, Minister of Defence; Mr Bogdan Benko, State Secretary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; General Andreij Osterman, Chief of the General Staff of the Slovenian Armed Forces; and Mr Alojz Grabner, Director of the Chemicals Office of the Republic of Slovenia.
During his visit, the Director-General opened the 14th Regional Meeting of National Authorities in Eastern Europe. Over 30 participants from 22 States Parties in the region discussed regional collaboration towards enhanced implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
The OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü (left), with the State Secretary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Bogdan Benko (right).
Ambassador Üzümcü also delivered a lecture at the University of Ljubljana to faculty, students and members of the diplomatic corps. In his remarks, the Director-General noted the importance of the OPCW’s efforts to engage with universities and institutes of higher learning.
“We want future generations of diplomats, scientists and engineers to remain seized of the potential for chemistry to be misused,” said Ambassador Üzümcü. “I firmly believe that it is a core responsibility of the OPCW to work with States Parties to engage centres of scientific discovery and innovation to this end.”
Ambassador Üzümcü also visited the Kobarid Museum, which chronicles the heavy fighting and use of chemical weapons that took place along the Soška – Isonzo Front in World War I.