WASHINGTON -- A veteran Turkish diplomat appears set to become the next head of the international agency that oversees the Chemical Weapons Convention (see GSN, July 22).
(Oct. 16) -
Turkish Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü has been recommended to assume the top post at the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons photo).
Ahmet Üzümcü was approved today by consensus of the 41-state Executive Council to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. His candidacy must still go before the OPCW Conference of State Parties during its next meeting From Nov. 30 to Dec. 4 in The Hague, Netherlands.
Upon receiving final approval, Üzümcü would begin a four-year term in July 2010. He would replace Rogelio Pfirter of Argentina, who has served as OPCW director general since 2002.
The 58-year-old envoy beat out six other candidates seeking the top spot with the organization established to ensure that the 188 Chemical Weapons Convention member states are not developing, producing, stockpiling or using chemical warfare materials such as mustard blister agent or the nerve agents sarin and VX.
Along with Turkey, candidates had been put forward by Algeria, Finland, Germany, Indonesia, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Delegates from the 41 nations this week conducted a series of straw polls to select their preferred applicant. After the fourth poll yesterday, only three candidates remained and Üzümcü had emerged as the clear leader, said OPCW spokesman Michael Luhan. The other two contenders, who were not identified, withdrew from consideration this morning.
"It was fairly clear by this morning that he had established himself as the only candidate who could be recommended to the Conference of States Parties by consensus," Luhan told Global Security Newswire. "He definitely, I think, impressed upon the delegations and capitals the feeling that he had real leadership qualities and gravitas."
Pfirter also lauded the smooth selection effort and the Executive Council decision.
“With its consensus decision today the Executive Council reaffirmed the OPCW as an example of successful multilateralism, and has recommended a candidate of sterling personal and professional qualities to lead the organization into the future,” he said in a press release. “At the same time, I wish to extend my appreciation to the other six candidates, and to their states parties, for the exceptional grace and wisdom they demonstrated in the course of the selection process. This is indeed a proud moment for the OPCW, one that demonstrates the maturity and profound unity of purpose which the organization has attained in its mission to create a world free of chemical weapons.”
This would be the first orderly transition of leadership at the organization since its inception in 1997. The first OPCW chief, Jose Bustani, was forced out of his job in 2002 in a campaign widely seen as being led by the United States (see GSN, April 23, 2002).
Üzümcü could not be reached for comment this afternoon. He now serves as Turkey's envoy to the U.N. Office at Geneva. His postings date back to 1976, and include stints at the Turkish representative to NATO and the Conference on Disarmament.
Chemical disarmament expert Paul Walker said he has met Üzümcü twice, and has been impressed by his knowledge of international security and nonproliferation issues, particularly related to the work of the organization he would lead. Üzümcü would also apparently be the first Turkish official to lead a major international organization, he said.
The selection "has some meaning not just for the OPCW but for Turkey in its role in the world," said Walker, security and sustainability chief at the environmental organization Global Green USA. "In the end I think it's a very good choice."