Global Green LOGO
The OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter, visited Washington D.C. on 2 and 3 April 2008 and delivered an address to the Legacy Forum 2008, organised by Global Green USA in the U.S. Capitol building. The Forum was opened by the co-Chairs of the Bipartisan Task Force on Nonproliferation, U.S. Representatives Edward Markey (D-Maryland) and Christopher Shays (R-Connecticut).
During his visit Director-General Pfirter also met with U.S. Representatives John Spratt (D-South Carolina) and Ellen Tauscher (D-California); with senior staff members of Senators Barbara Boxer (D-California), Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), Richard G. Lugar (R-Indiana) and Joe Biden (D-Delaware); and with senior staff of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
In addition, Director-General Pfirter had meetings with senior officials of the U.S. State Department including Paula DeSutter, the Assistant Secretary of State for Verification, Compliance and Implementation; Patricia A. McNerney, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of International Security and Non-Proliferation; and Donald A. Mahley, the Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Threat Reductions, Export Controls and Negotiations. The Director-General also had discussions with John C. Rood, the Under Secretary for International Security and Nonproliferation.
During these meetings, Director-General Pfirter discussed issues relating to the full and effective implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), including the status of the destruction of declared chemical weapons, the OPCW’s global verification activities and the importance of universality for the Convention.