HE Mr Jorge Urbina, Chairman of the UN Security Council 1540 Committee
H.E. Mr. Jorge Urbina, the Chairman of the United Nations Security Council 1540 Committee, commended the OPCW for its significant contribution to global non-proliferation efforts, and in particular for its achievements in fostering effective implementation of the CWC at national level.
H.E. Mr. Jorge Urbina, the Chairman of the United Nations Security Council 1540 Committee, paid a visit to the OPCW headquarters on 12 October 2009 and met with the Director-General, Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter.
Director-General Pfirter provided Mr Urbina an overview of the OPCW’s activities, focussing on its efforts to strengthen implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) at the national level. As examples, inter alia, the Director-General highlighted the technical assistance that the OPCW provides to States Parties in drafting their national legislation to implement the CWC, and to national customs authorities to improve their capacity for monitoring transfers of Scheduled chemicals.
Mr Urbina commended the OPCW for its significant contribution to global non-proliferation efforts, and in particular for its achievements in fostering effective implementation of the CWC at national level. He noted that the 1540 Committee is now focusing on the challenge of national level implementation as well and suggested that the Committee establish closer cooperation with the OPCW through an exchange of experience at the expert level.
Director-General Pfirter welcomed Mr Urbina’s suggestion and expressed OPCW’s willingness to expand its cooperation with the Committee in this regard.
OPCW NEWS 45/2009