First Pillar Ceremony for the OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology
Vision and leadership for a better world free of chemical weapons The Director General of the OPCW, H.E. Mr. Fernando Arias, hosted a “First Pillar” ceremony, launching the construction of the new OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology (ChemTech) in Pijnacker-Nootdorp, outside the Hague.
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This is not just a building, nor just a stone but as H.E. Mr. Arias said himself: “This is more than the symbolic placement of the first pillar. It is the celebration of a common success of all of us, which means a success of the international community. We are aware that the world is evolving fast and there are more powerful weapons in the hands of more countries and non-state actors than ever before. We must adapt and continue to update our knowledge and equipment to this new situation. And we 50 DIPLOMAT AFFAIRS
“THIS BUILDING WILL BE A UNIQUE LEGACY OF THIS GENERATION OF DIPLOMATS IN THE HAGUE.”
are doing so.”This first stone was placed by the Director-General, the Deputy DirectorGeneral, H.E. Ms Odette Melono, Chairperson of construc-tion company Dura Vermeer, Mr Job Dura and the Managing Partner of Ector Hoogstad Architects, Mr Joost Ector. This symbolically initiated the construction of the new complex. The ChemTech Centre will be located on a 6,400m2 plot within the Heron Business Park in Pijnacker-Nootdorp, outside The Hague.
