The Hague, 25 July 2002

The First Special Session of the Conference of the States Parties reconvened on 25 July 2002 to consider and to take a decision on the recommendation of the Executive Council to appoint Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter as the Director-General of the Technical Secretariat of the OPCW.

The Conference of the States Parties appointed Ambassador Pfirter by acclamation. The new Director General's four-year term of office commenced immediately upon his appointment.

Prior to his appointment, Mr Pfirter, a lawyer and a career diplomat, was the Under-Secretary for Foreign Policy in the Ministry of External Relations, International Trade and Worship, Argentina. The Chairman of the Conference of the States Parties, Ambassador Heinrich Reimann of Switzerland, congratulated Ambassador Pfirter upon his appointment stating, " the Organisation is very fortunate to have been able to recruit an experienced multilateralist, well-versed in negotiating complex issues covering a range of issues from nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, international security, resolving historical conflict and resource management. Ambassador Pfirter is also experienced in overseeing the search for resolution of such issues."

Ambassador Reimann noted that the Organisation required dedicated, focussed and vigorous leadership at the moment since the chemical weapons destruction activity of the States Parties will accelerate significantly in the next four years. "As the Convention foresees, the next four years represent a critical phase in the successful implementation of a chemical weapons ban. Leadership within the Technical Secretariat that returns its undivided attention to this most ambitious disarmament effort is essential. We have placed our full confidence in Ambassador Pfirter's ability to provide that leadership. "

Mr Pfirter thanked the delegations for their unanimous support and asserted, "We wish to open a new chapter. First, one of my top priorities will be to ensure appropriate funding in 2003. The destruction of chemical weapons and their production facilities must be completed as soon as possible. A number of countries have yet to join the Organisation and should do so without delay. And finally, the Technical Secretariat must keep pace with new technological challenges and scientific advances to maintain the Convention's security relevance."