On 7 November 2005, H.E. Mr Alexander Popovic, Minister of Technology, Serbia and Montenegro, visited the headquarters of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague. OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter, provided Minister Popovic an overview of the Chemical Weapons Convention’s current status of implementation.
On behalf of his Government, Minister Popovic reaffirmed Serbia and Montenegro’s unwavering support for the aims and goals of the chemical weapons ban and expressed full support for the work of the OPCW in implementing the Convention. He reiterated the urgent requirement on the part of all States Parties to fulfil their obligations under the Convention in full so as to be certain that chemical weapons cannot spread, nor dangerous material fall into the hands of terrorists. Minister Popovic also reiterated his Government’s intention to host once again in 2006 the Basic Course on protection against chemical weapons.
Director-General Pfirter expressed on behalf of the Organisation his thanks for Serbia and Montenegro’s support for the Convention’s full implementation and welcomed Serbia’s continuing cooperation in ensuring that all OPCW Member States receive the support they may require to ensure that the CWC can be applied in full and effectively within the national jurisdiction of every Member State.
On the occasion of the Tenth Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention, Minister Popovic addressed the Conference and noted that terrorism has become one of the most dangerous global threats, while chemical weapons appear to be one of the choices and relatively easily accessible means available to terrorists. He emphasized that his Government strongly believes that a strict compliance with the Convention and its universal application offers the most effective defence against chemical terrorism. Minister Popovic informed the Conference that Serbia and Montenegro had recently adopted the legislation needed to enforce the CWC at the national level. At the same time, he noted that both the Serbian and Montenegrin Parliaments will soon adopt the detailed regulations pertaining to the chemicals listed in the Convention.
66/2005