From 16 to 18 May 2005, the Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter, paid an official visit to Malaysia. During his visit, Ambassador Pfirter was welcomed by H.E. Tan Sri Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Secretary General Ahmad Fuzi reaffirmed Malaysia’s firm resolve to seek the full and effective implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), as well as his Government’s unwavering support for the Organisation.
In conjunction with the visit of the OPCW Director-General, the Malaysian Government informed Ambassador Pfirter that the draft legislation required to implement the provisions of Article VII of the CWC at the national level had entered the final phase of adoption, following its introduction and approval by the Malaysian Senate. The further legal process, including the assent of His Majesty the King, is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Director-General Pfirter welcomed this development and praised the Malaysian authorities for the progress achieved in the CWC’s national implementation in Malaysia, in particular since this legislation provides the essential legal and administrative basis, enabling States Parties to deter or pursue any breach of the CWC, including the terrorist acquisition or use of chemical weapons. Moreover, Ambassador Pfirter expressed the hope that Malaysia’s accomplishments in this regard would serve as an encouragement to other States Parties now undertaking to meet the goals of the OPCW Action Plan on national implementation, whose target date for completion is 7 November 2005.
On behalf of the Organisation, Director-General Pfirter thanked the Malaysian Government for its exemplary cooperation with the OPCW, and in particular for hosting the first Asian Regional Meeting on Assistance and Protection against Chemical Weapons, being held in Kuala Lumpur from 16 to 19 May 2005. Director-General Pfirter underscored Malaysia’s contribution to both the on-going success of the Organisation in its mandate to eliminate chemical weapons, as well as to the international effort towards the elimination of weapons of mass destruction. He highlighted Malaysia’s position as Chair of the Conference of the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention in its Eighth Session in 2003, as well as its role as Chair of the Non-Aligned Movement, the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and its forthcoming Chairmanship the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) from July 2005.
In the course of his official visit, Ambassador Pfirter also held meetings with H.E. Admiral Dato’ Sri Mohd Anwar Bin Hj Mohd Nor, Chief of the Armed Forces, as well as high-level officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Mr Ahmad Jazri Mohd Johar, Head of the Malaysian National Authority. In addition, the Director-General visited the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) and met senior-level representatives of the Malaysian chemical industry.
In his opening statement to the first Asian Regional Meeting on Assistance and Protection against Chemical Weapons, Director-General Pfirter stressed the importance of regional cooperation in the area of protection. He noted the Member States expect the OPCW to provide timely, adequate and efficient assistance in case of use, or threat of use of chemical weapons. He emphasized that the Member States’ protection obligations will remain crucial for as long as chemical weapons exist, for as long as States remain outside the Convention, and for as long as the threat of the use of these weapons by terrorist groups continues to cast a shadow over our lives.
During his official visit, Ambassador Pfirter also provided a briefing on the status of implementation of the CWC to the Staff College of the Malaysian Ministry of Defence.
19/2005