The Hague, 9 December 2003

U.S. Under Secretary of State, Mr John R. Bolton Visits the OPCW

On 19 November 2003, the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, Mr John R. Bolton, visited the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) headquarters and met with its Director-General, Mr Rogelio Pfirter.

At his meeting with the Director-General, the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security reiterated his country’s strong political commitment to the Chemical Weapons Convention and expressed his country’s appreciation and support for the OPCW’s continuing achievements toward the total elimination of chemical weapons.

Under Secretary Bolton was informed of the status of destruction of chemical weapons, the conversion and destruction of chemical weapons production facilities, the on-going verification activities and issues relating to international cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of chemistry.

The Chemical Weapons Convention, banning chemical weapons, entered into force in 1997 and mandated the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to eliminate chemical weapons forever, verify the timely destruction of all declared chemical weapons, monitor the non-diversion of dual-use chemicals, facilitate the mutual assistance and protection afforded to all Member States, if any Member State is threatened by or attacked with chemical weapons, and promote the peaceful uses of chemistry.