In the presence of His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands the official inauguration of the new Centre for Chemistry and Technology (ChemTech Centre) of the Organisation for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in Pijnacker-Nootdorp, Netherlands, took place today Friday 12 of May.
During the ceremony, His Majesty the King unveiled a plaque to mark the official inauguration of the Centre and was given a guided tour of the facilities.
"The ChemTech Centre is a success of multilateral diplomacy and tangible symbol of what the international community can achieve together in the benefit of global peace and security. It is a privilege and honour that the Centre is inaugurated in the presence of His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands," the Director-General said in his opening remarks. "I thank 57 donor countries, and other donors, including the European Union and the members of the Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons of Mass Destruction for their strong political and financial support to make this Centre a reality. We will leave a special legacy to future generations for the common interest of peace and security."
Speaking on behalf of the OPCW's host country, H.E. Mr Paul Huijts, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, stated: "It is a great honour to participate in the inauguration ceremony of the ChemTech Centre. As Host Nation to and Member State of the OPCW, the Netherlands is strongly committed to upholding the global norm against the use of chemical weapons. It is our firm belief that all Member States will benefit from the new and exciting opportunities the ChemTech Centre has to offer and that it will greatly contribute to further bolster its international role, particularly in disarmament, verification and cooperation."
The ChemTech Centre is an important upgrade to the OPCW's capabilities to adapt to the evolving global security landscape and assisting Member States in upholding the global norm against chemical weapons. It will ensure that the Organisation remains able to address threats and opportunities arising from rapid progress in science and technology.
The Centre also provides a platform to better coordinate efforts between scientists, academia, civil society, industry, and relevant international organisations. Activities at the Centre underpin the role of the Organisation as the world's leading repository of chemical weapons related expertise and knowledge, addressing chemical threats worldwide.
