The Hague, 19 May 2004

OPCW Director General Visits Romania, Meets President Iliescu and Senior Romanian Authorities

On the occasion of his visit to Romania from 17 to 19 May 2004, OPCW Director General Rogelio Pfirter met with HE Mr Ion Iliescu, President of Romania, Mr Valer Dorneanu, Speaker of the Second Chamber of the Romanian Parliament, Mr George Ciamba, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Ms Nineta Barbulescu, President of the National Agency for Export Controls (ANCEX).

President Iliescu reaffirmed Romania’s strong support for the Chemical Weapons Convention and the OPCW, and Director-General Pfirter expressed his appreciation for Romania’s solid progress with CWC implementation as well as for its constructive and positive role in the activities of the OPCW.

Mr Dorneanu and the Director-General concurred that Parliaments play a key role in the enactment of the national measures needed to implement the Chemical Weapons Convention. The Director-General asked for the support of the Romanian Parliament in encouraging other Parliaments in the world in this endeavour.

Mr Ciamba and the Director-General discussed the significance of United Nations’ Security Council Resolution 1540, which Romania has co-sponsored, and both agreed on the important role that could be played by the OPCW in support of this landmark decision.

Finally, Ms Barbulescu and the Director-General had a fruitful exchange of views regarding the cooperation between the National Authority of Romania and the OPCW, in particular in relation to the implementation of Article VII Action Plan.