The first special session of the Conference of the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention, convened as of 21 April 2002, has adjourned.
113 States Parties registered for participation in the special session, which considered the tenure of the Director-General of the Technical Secretariat of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, as well as any further action regarding the Technical Secretariat.
The Chairman of the Conference, H.E. Ambassador Dr Heinrich Reimann of Switzerland, summarised the developments of the Conference thus far:
“After the Conference considered the proposal to end the tenure of the Director-General of the Technical Secretariat for the requisite 24-hour period, in an effort to reach a consensus decision, a roll-call vote was held on 22 April 2002. Over a two-thirds majority of those States Parties present and voting supported the proposal.
Following the decision of the Conference, I thanked the out-going Director-General for his many years of dedicated service to the Organisation. Under Mr Bustani’s leadership, this Organisation has become one of the foremost multilateral disarmament Organisations, setting standards of excellence and equal treatment.
The Conference considered the process for the selection and appointment of a replacement for Mr Bustani and has decided to suspend its deliberations until the Executive Council meets and provides a recommendation on the appointment of a new Director-General, no later than 10 June 2002.”
35/2002