The Hague, 12 September 1997

OPCW Director-General Bustani meets with Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs

The Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Mr José Bustani paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, Mr Hans van Mierlo, to update the Minister about the ongoing work of the OPCW in implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention. Mr Bustani informed Mr van Mierlo that the OPCW had already conducted 70 inspections around the world in the last four months, with some inspections continuing on an ongoing basis at destruction facilities in the United States. In the declarations so far received by the OPCW, eight states had declared existing or previous chemical weapons programmes. Mr Bustani stated that he expected inspections of all chemical weapons related facilities declared to the OPCW to be completed by mid-October. This would mean that the OPCW would be ahead of its targeted activities, while remaining within the budgeted expenditure. Without exception, the inspections have gone smoothly, facilitated by well-trained inspectors and the full and active cooperation of inspected States Parties.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Director-General also discussed the critical importance of securing ratification by the Russian Federation. The Netherlands has been in the vanguard of those states offering assistance to Russia in the destruction of its chemical weapons, the cost of which is a major factor in the timing of Russian ratification. Emphasising the importance of having Russia take its rightful place in the OPCW, Mr Bustani explained that he plans to travel to Moscow next week to hold discussions with key government and State Duma officials and that prospects are good for ratification this autumn.

Mr Bustani expressed personal thanks for the support which has been provided to the OPCW by the Netherlands, particularly in the areas of providing visas, work with the construction of the permanent headquarters of the OPCW, and the movement of personnel and equipment for inspection through Schipol and Rotterdam airports. In addition to this excellent official relationship, the Director-General noted that the open, friendly nature of Dutch society in general and of The Hague in particular ensure that it will remain an excellent choice for international organisations to establish their headquarters.