From 13 to 14 June 2005, the Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter, paid an official visit to the Republic of Cyprus.
On 13 June 2005, Director-General Pfirter opened the Regional Workshop on the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which brings together representatives of twenty-three States Parties, the European Union, the League of Arab States, and the Egyptian Council on Foreign Affairs, as well as representatives of six States from the Mediterranean Basin that have not yet ratified or acceded to the CWC.
During the course of the visit, Director-General Pfirter met the Minister of Defence, H.E. Mr. Kyriakos Mavronicolas. Director-General Pfirter provided Minister Mavronicolas a briefing on the status of the Chemical Weapons Convention, which now numbers 169 States Parties, and on the prospects for further progress in the pursuit of the Convention’s universality, extending the ban on chemical weapons to all countries and every citizen around the world.
In his meeting with the Director-General, H.E. Minister Mavronicolas reaffirmed Cyprus’ unwavering commitment to the promotion of the full and effective implementation of the CWC, as well as his Government’s strong support for the Organisation and its mission to eliminate chemical weapons. Minister Mavronicolas underscored Cyprus’ firm intention to continue to urge all States within the Mediterranean Basin and the Middle East to join the CWC as soon as possible. Universality in the region will serve to enhance trust and to facilitate the resolution of conflict.
In the course of his official visit, Ambassador Pfirter also held meetings with the Minister of Labour and Social Insurance, H.E. Mr. Christos Taliadoros, and commended Cyprus’ chemical industry for its active support of the CWC’s non-proliferation regime. In his meeting with President of the House of Representatives, the Hon. Mr. Demetris Christofias, Director-General Pfirter recognized the contribution made by Cyprus’ legislators in ensuring the full and effective implementation of the chemical weapons ban at the national level. On behalf of the Organisation, Director-General Pfirter expressed his gratitude to the Political Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mrs. Thalia Petrides, for the invaluable support the Republic of Cyprus is providing to the OPCW and, in particular, for the generous cooperation Cyprus has extended to the OPCW by hosting the Second Regional Workshop on the Chemical Weapons Convention.
23/2005