The Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Sen. Benedetto Della Vedova, held a meeting today at the Farnesina with the Director General of the OPCW, Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü, during his visit to Rome to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the Chemical Weapons Convention. The meeting provided an opportunity to reiterate Italian appreciation for the activities of the OPCW, acknowledge the excellent level of cooperation between Italy and the Organisation, discuss the situation in Syria and reaffirm the unacceptability of any use of chemical weapons, as well as the need to ensure that those responsible are held to account for their life-threatening actions.
Tomorrow, the Director General of OPCW will attend a seminar organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation – MAECI in conjunction with the Tor Vergata University at the premises of the Istituto Superiore Antincendi. A panel of international experts in various fields will discuss the role and future of the OPCW, considering the international security situation, as well as relations between the chemical industry and the scientific and academic community. The event, which will recognise the results achieved since the Convention came into force on 29 April 1997, with the elimination of 95% of chemical weapons declared by the signatory countries, will be attended by diplomats and representatives of industry and universities.
