The following is a draft version of the opening remarks by King Karl XVI Gustaf. The King actually made the speech a bit longer and also a bit more personal, referring to the great interest the Crown Princess Victoria has in these issues.

The Opening Remarks By His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf

At the Eighth International Symposium on Protection Against Chemical and Biological Warfare Agents

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have had the pleasure of opening this symposium a couple of times before. In my opening speech at the sixth symposium, six years ago, I emphasized the political changes in the world that had taken place during the first part of the nineties, with implications on the threat picture from biological and chemical warfare agents.

Today we can with great satisfaction claim that the world has changed even more to the better, regarding state actors and weapons of mass destruction. This is most evident for the chemical area. The Chemical Weapons Convention has been a success since it went into force 1997, with almost all countries in the world as state parties of the convention.

But we have faced other frightening events during the period since your latest meeting in Sweden. Of course you realize that I am referring to September 11 and to the anthrax letters – real and false - which followed that event. Terrorism is the curse of today. There have, fortunately, been very few attacks with chemical or biological agents but we must be prepared. Your work in protection is extremely important also in this area.

All efforts to minimize the risks for the use of biological or chemical weapons in any conflict are welcome and necessary in our striving for a safer world. A strong protection is one very important tool to make these weapons obsolete. I note with satisfaction that you have also environmental protection on your agenda.

I am pleased to see so many experts assembling at this meeting and to see delegates from so many parts of the world. I interpret this interest as a sign of your great and devoted attention to these matters.

I am convinced that you will have four fruitful days of discussions and exchange of results and ideas. Although your schedule is tight, I hope that you will find the time for walking around in the beautiful city of Gothenburg and also for visiting the charming environments.

I hereby declare the Eight International Symposium on Protection against Chemical and Biological Warfare Agents open.

(This is a shortened version of the presentation made to the 8th International Protection Symposium on Protection against Chemical and Biological Weapons held in Gothenburg, Sweden on 2 to 6 June 2004. The full paper and Powerpoint presentation are available on the Bradford website at http://www.brad.ac.uk/acad/sbtwc)