The Hague, 23 September 2003

South African Deputy President Visits OPCW

H.E. Mr Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma, the Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, visited the OPCW headquarters in The Hague on 22 September 2003.

In his discussions with the OPCW Director-General, H.E. Mr Rogelio Pfirter, Mr Zuma was provided an overview of the present status of implementation of the Convention. Mr Zuma reiterated South Africa’s strong commitment to Disarmament and Non-Proliferation, including the abolition of chemical weapons, and to the Convention, stressing “the verifiable elimination of these weapons through a multilateral, non-discriminatory regime is making a crucial contribution to the enhancement of international peace and security. “

Mr Pfirter noted that South Africa has consistently made a significant contribution to the Organisation and has been continuously elected as a member of the Executive Council since 1997. Mr Pfirter expressed the Organisation’s gratitude for ”South Africa’s firm resolve and proactive stance in supporting the chemical weapons ban and in closely cooperating to ensure the success of the international cooperation programmes of the Organisation.”

Both Mr Zuma and the Mr Pfirter agreed that the goal of universality on the African continent should be pursued persistently and were encouraged by the recent accession of Sao Tomé and Principe and by the African Union’s decision on the universality and effective implementation of the Convention on the African continent. This decision was taken at the 2002 Summit in Durban and reiterated at the 2003 Summit in Maputo.

The South African Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mr Penuel Maduna, as well as the Permanent Representative of South Africa to the OPCW, H.E. Ms Priscilla Jana, accompanied the Deputy President on his visit to the OPCW headquarters.