The Hague, 25 August 1997

Director-General Bustani meets with Prime Minister Kok of the Netherlands

On 25 August 1997, the Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Mr José Bustani paid a courtesy call to the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mr Willem Kok to exchange ideas on the role of the OPCW and to discuss its progress in implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention during the first three months of operations. Although the Prime Minister was already very well informed about OPCW activities, the Director-General took the opportunity to update him on progress with implementation activities and explained that international inspections are now well underway and are proceeding according to plan in actual chemical weapons facilities as well as in facilities in Member States which deal with so-called Schedule 1 chemicals. Mr Bustani expressed satisfaction with the solid progress which has been achieved to date. The Prime Minister and the Director-General discussed the importance of universality for the Convention and in this context, the urgent need to facilitate ratification by the Russian Federation and other key states. They also agreed that it was essential that all Member States pay their financial contributions to the OPCW as early as possible so as to ensure that inspection activities will continue uninterrupted.

Mr Bustani took the opportunity of the personal meeting with the Prime Minister to extend his sincere gratitude for the support which has been provided to the OPCW by the Host Country, expressing the view that the Hague is fast becoming a dynamic centre for international organisations. Noting that the OPCW's move to its permanent headquarters, scheduled for early next year, will be a milestone for both the Organisation and the Host Country, Mr Bustani expressed the hope that the Prime Minister himself would be able to attend the official opening to reflect the key role which the Host Country has played. The Prime Minister assured Mr Bustani of the Host Country's intention to continue to support the OPCW in its work in every way possible and wished the Director-General well in his on-going work.