In his address to nearly 4,000 delegates attending the international Model United Nations in The Hague during 27 January-1 February, 2002 (the largest model UN in the world), OPCW Director-General, Ambassador José M. Bustani, emphasised the importance of the vital cooperation which exists between the United Nations and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), and the need to energetically foster creative solutions in seeking a new spirit of cooperation. “Some call it ‘multilateralism’,” Mr Bustani observed, “Personally, I see it as much more than that. It is about acting together, constructively and effectively, by uniting nations to address and resolve international problems which individual governments are simply not equipped to resolve.”
The horrific events of 11 September Mr Bustani noted, “have placed in stark relief the new realities at the dawn of a new century. We have a joint responsibility to make sure that chemical weapons are never allowed to fall into the wrong hands, or to pose a serious risk to present and future generations. Clearly, the best way to achieve this is to destroy the remaining stocks as quickly and safely as possible.”
The Chemical Weapons Convention also mandates the OPCW to actively develop the means to coordinate and deliver assistance and protection to Member States in the event of the use or threat of use of chemical weapons, including their use by terrorists.
The delegates of THIMUN were also informed of the status of the OPCW’s mission in enhancing global security, disarmament, and development. In particular, preventing the use of chemical weapons by anyone, including terrorists, requires a stringent mechanism to prevent, criminalise, and ultimately eliminate the use of chemical weapons globally. Mr Bustani stated that, “We need to be able to detect, to prevent, and to reduce the possibility that terrorists can find ‘safe havens’ for producing chemical weapons in the first place.”
To foster both the peaceful use of chemistry, and to prevent the proliferation of chemical weapons, Mr Bustani explained, “We offer training programmes, support research projects, and organise conferences and seminars where people can establish new contacts, exchange ideas, and set up joint projects. Such communications-networking-can also help immensely in reinforcing the ban on chemical weapons. We have a responsibility to future generations to take action now.”
07/2002