OPCW Director-General Pfirter with U.S. Senator Richard Lugar
In an online poll conducted by the Arms Control Association (ACA), U.S. Senator Richard Lugar has been voted the “2009 Arms Control Person of the Year” in recognition of his long-standing support for U.S. financial contributions to construct Russia’s new chemical weapons destruction facility at Shchuchye.
“The international vote selecting Richard Lugar acknowledges the Senator’s work last year, and clearly celebrates his multi-decade commitment to reducing Cold War legacy weapons,” said Daryl G. Kimball, executive director of the Washington-based ACA.
The Shchuchye facility will eventually destroy some 2 million chemical munitions and 5,460 metric tonnes of deadly VX, sarin and soman agents, representing about 14% of Russia’s entire declared chemical weapons stockpile. OPCW inspectors will maintain a 24-hour presence at the facility until all chemical weapons munitions and agents at the site are verifiably destroyed.
The OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter, attended the opening ceremonies for the Shchuchye facility with Senator Lugar in late May 2009.
The complete list of nominees for the ACA poll can be seen at www.armscontrol.org/pressroom/2009personofyearvote.