The Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter is paying a visit to Turkey between 16-19 March 2008. This is the first official visit of a OPWC Director-General to Turkey.

The OPCW Director-General Pfirter, during his visit, will be received by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and will have meetings with officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant institutions. An exchange of views on the relations between Turkey and the OPCW, as well as on regional and international issues will take place at these meetings..

Turkey, considering arms control and disarmament as a major aspect of its foreign policy, has become party to the Convention on Chemical Weapons in 1997, the same year when the Convention entered into force. The objectives of the Convention regarding the demolition of chemical weapons and the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction are consistent with our national interests, and security and disarmament policies.