Ivailo Kalfin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs
The OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter, paid an official visit to Sofia, Bulgaria from 21 to 23 October 2008 where he met with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mr Ivailo Kalfin, and other high-level Government officials.
In his meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Kalfin, the Director-General provided an update on the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), including the progress being made towards eliminating global chemical weapons stockpiles. Director-General Pfirter commended Bulgaria for its implementation of the Convention and its close cooperation with the OPCW.
For his part, Deputy Prime Minister Kalfin reaffirmed Bulgaria’s firm commitment to the goals of the CWC and assured the Director-General of his country’s continuing strong support for the work of the OPCW. The Deputy Prime Minister announced that Bulgaria will host the 2009 Annual Meeting of National Authorities of States Parties in Eastern Europe.
In addition, the Director-General met with the Minister of Economy and Energy, H.E. Mr Petar Dimitrov, who also serves as Chairman of the Inter-ministerial Commission for Export Control and Non-proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction. He met as well with the Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations, Mr Angel Chakarov, to address Bulgaria’s contributions to the work of the OPCW under Article X (Assistance and Protection) of the CWC.
During his visit to Sofia, Director-General Pfirter also gave an address to the Diplomatic Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.