PR30: Prime Minister of Latvia Visits OPCW

The Hague, 23 October 2000			Number 30

Press Release

Prime Minister of Latvia Visits OPCW

The Hague, The Netherlands, 23 October 2000

His Excellency Mr Andris Berzins, the Prime Minister of Latvia, paid an official visit to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) today.

The Prime Minister and his entourage were met by the Director-General of the OPCW, Mr José Bustani; Deputy Director-General, Mr John Gee; Director of the Inspectorate, Mr Ichiro Akiyama; Secretary to the Policy-Making Organs, Mr Sylwin Gizowski; Director of External Relations, Mr Yu Huang; Director of International Cooperation and Assistance, Mr John Makhubalo; and other senior OPCW officials.

During the visit, Prime Minister Berzins had a meeting with the Director-General and was given a tour of the OPCW Operations Centre, where he was briefed on the work of the OPCW. The Director-General and the Prime Minister discussed cooperation between Latvia and the OPCW, and also reviewed the current status of the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, in particular the situation in relation to the destruction of chemical weapons. The Prime Minster drew attention to the environmental concerns posed by chemical munitions dumped at sea and by other toxic wastes, particularly in the Baltic area. The Director-General emphasised the stepping up of the OPCW efforts in the area of international cooperation and, in particular, drew the attention of the Prime Minister to the OPCW Associate Programme, aimed at enhancing national expertise in the functioning of modern chemical industry for peaceful purposes by training personnel from developing countries and countries in transition at chemical industry facilities and educational institutions. The current programme makes use of such facilities in the United Kingdom and in The Netherlands.

The Prime Minister then briefed the Director-General on Latvia's forthcoming chairmanship of the Council of Europe, and commended the Director-General on the work of the OPCW.

The Director-General said:

"We are honoured to have the Prime Minister visit our Headquarters. Latvia is a strong supporter of the Organisation and of the Chemical Weapons Convention, and has been a Member State of the OPCW since the Convention's entry into force on 29 April 1997."

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) came into existence on 29 April 1997. Its deed of foundation—the Chemical Weapons Convention—aims to achieve four principal objectives: the elimination of chemical weapons and of the capacity to develop them, the verification of non-proliferation, international assistance and protection in the event of the use or threat of use of chemical weapons, and international cooperation and assistance in the peaceful use of chemistry.

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