From 27 to 30 March, the Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter, paid a visit to the United States and met government officials, legislators and chemical industry representatives.
In the course of his stay, Ambassador Pfirter delivered the keynote address at the Tenth Legacy Forum, hosted by Global Green USA. The Legacy Forum brings together representatives of the non-governmental community, the local communities, the state and federal governments, as well as governmental officials engaged in chemical weapons destruction. Ambassador Pfirter commended the possessor States for their effort to eliminate the declared chemical weapons stockpile. Ambassador Pfirter highlighted the need to quicken the pace of destruction to be certain that that deadline for total destruction, 29 April 2012, can be met. He welcomed the interaction between local communities and government stakeholders fostered by Global Green, since this active communication contributes towards safe and timely stockpile destruction.
During his visit, Director-General Pfirter met the United States Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Non-proliferation, H.E. Mr John C. Rood, Ambassador Pfirter provided an overview of the Chemical Weapons Convention’s global application. Ambassador Pfirter noted that global chemical weapons ban established by the Chemical Weapons Convention is entering its tenth year in force. Recalling that 182 States had joined the treaty within a decade, he stressed that well over 95% of the global population lives within the Convention jurisdiction, a significant step towards the achievement of the OPCW’s goal to bring about a chemical weapons-free world.
Reiterating his Government’s long-standing and strong support for universal adherence to the Chemical Weapons Convention and for the OPCW’s mission to implement that ban, Assistant Secretary Rood confirmed that the on-going effort to ensure that every State receives the support needed to join and implement the ban must be sustained.
On behalf of the OPCW, Ambassador Pfirter expressed his gratitude for the United States’ generous and continuing contribution to the OPCW’s mission and its invaluable cooperation in providing both the Organisation and the Member States the support needed to make universal adherence to the chemical weapons ban a reality.
Both Assistant Secretary Rood and Ambassador Pfirter condemned the renewed chlorine bomb attacks in Iraq, stating that these criminal acts are clear and unacceptable violations of international norms that must be stopped. During his visit, Ambassador Pfirter met several Congressional officials to provide briefings on the status of the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
In his meeting with representatives of the American Chemistry Council, Ambassador Pfirter discussed issues related to the industrial inspections regime, which is a key component of the Chemical Weapons Convention’s non-proliferation mission. In underlining the crucial importance of preventing terrorist access to toxic chemicals to prevent chemical attacks, Ambassador Pfirter commended the chemical industry for its ongoing advocacy and full implementation of the chemical weapons ban.
PR24 / 2007