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OPCW “First Pillar”
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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.
TThis 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 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.
“THIS BUILDING WILL BE A UNIQUE LEGACY OF THIS GENERATION OF DIPLOMATS IN THE HAGUE.”
The Director General of the OPCW, H.E. Mr. Fernando Arias.
The OPCW was able to finance the purchasing of the land, thanks to the generosity of The Netherlands, that provided a significant contribution, large enough to pay for it in full.
It was a long journey and process to get to this day, and Director-General Arias expressed his gratitude to all those who had made this possible, including the warm cooperation with the municipality of Nootdorp Pijnacker, notably Madame Mayor, Francisca Ravenstein. To quote His Excellency: “The need of a tool like the Centre for Chemistry and Technology was evident since a long time ago. However, the financial and political support was not so evident. Consequently, all together we had to devote time and effort to reach the momentum that created optimism and motivation to progress in this idea. At a certain moment, the support of the Member States became clear and there were two occasions with particular significance: the day when we received the first contribution, donated by the Republic of Korea and the gesture of a such an important country gave crucial and additional credibility to the project. In 2020 we were seriously concerned as we had not yet reached the budget and the COVID situation was presenting serious obstacles. One day Ambassador Luis Vassy of France informed me that France had decided to give an additional contribution to complete the construction budget.”
“THE OPCW WORKS FOR DISARMAMENT, AND ASSISTANCE TO THE 193 MEMBER STATES, FOR A BETTER WORLD, FREE OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS, AND SAFE IN THE USE OF CHEMICALS.”
The agreement was signed in March 2021. The Director General also expressed his gratitude for the support of Canada as largest state contributor, which has also carried out an outstanding task in favour of the CCT in the “The Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons of Mass Destruction”. And to the European Union as biggest contributor in absolute terms.’ There were 50 State contributors, and His Excellency stated “It is the support of all of you, your vision and your generosity that have made possible the development of this project
The mayor of Pijnacker-Nootdorp and numerous Ambassadors and other diplomats attended the ceremony, amongst them the Chairs of the Conference of States and the Executive Council of the Organisation.
“THE CENTRE FOR CHEMISTRY AND TECHNOLOGY IS A COMMON SUCCESS OF ALL THE DIPLOMATS IN THE HAGUE AND, AS A CONSEQUENCE, OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.”
The Managing Partner of Ector Hoogstad Architects, Mr Joost Ector, the Director-General, H.E. Mr. Fernando Arias, the Deputy Director- General, H.E. Ms Odette Melono and the Chairperson of the construction company Dura Vermeer, Mr Job Dura.
possible, and you all deserve the recognition and gratitude.” Director General Arias concluded: “You can rest assured, that the time I will remain in the Secretariat, I will work with my team with motivation, conviction, principles, responsibility and humility, to deliver as you expect and deserve, paying tribute with our work to the trust you have deposited on us.” Indeed, ‘This building will be a unique legacy of this generation of diplomats in The Hague.’ It is hoped that the building will be finished by the end of 2022 and will be operational a few weeks later.
