Acceptance speech by Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter, Director-General of the Technical Secretariat of the OPCW

Mister Chairman,

Excellencies,

distinguished Delegates,

ladies and gentlemen,

Thank you for that warm welcome.

I can assure you that after the intense days and weeks that preceded this Conference, it is a heart-warming feeling.

We all know where we come from.

The Organisation, the Member States of the Chemical Weapons Convention have been through one of the most complicated periods in its brief history.

Yet it's not my intention to dwell on the past, but rather to signal the beginning of a new phase, because it is time to move on.

Putting this organisation firmly back on its feet is the first order of business and in doing so, not only shall we safeguard the implementation of the Convention, but indicate our collective commitment with the most desirable instrument there is to maintain international peace and security, the principle and practice of multilateralism.

Throughout my professional career, I have been a consistent proponent and defender of this principle because I believe that, when it comes to solving problems of a global nature nothing can match collective wisdom, joint action and decision making by consensus.

The task of ridding the world of chemical weapons and ensuring that these do not threaten human lives again, demands no less than the participation of all Member States.

This is why we negotiated the Convention in the first place and decided to devote our nations' human and financial resources to set up an organisation which is unique in its technical capacity to verify compliance with the single universal and non-discriminatory treaty on weapons of mass-destruction.

I know that having just started a new chapter, Member States want an OPCW in full operation.

I intend to provide the leadership necessary to give you, the owners of this body, the results you legitimately expect from us.

Member States set the objectives and monitor our progress towards them, not individuals.

In this regard, my first priority will be to make sure that the two wills, the States Parties and the Secretariat's, converge and move decisively in the same direction.

A few guiding principles will inspire my action as Director-General:

Transparency: as the Technical Secretariat can not carry out its work behind closed doors. You have the right to know how things are done. I will interact intensively and systematically with States Parties, in particular those which bear the special responsibility and privilege of being Executive Council Members.

As I see it, there should be a permanent and fluent channel of communication between the International Staff and Member States through their delegation to the Organisation.

Coming from Argentina, you won't be surprised when I state that it takes two to tango…

Through transparency, we will create Confidence.

For me confidence requires that implementation of the Convention be carried out in a balanced and non-discriminatory manner. I will stand by this principle.

Prudent management acquires special meaning these days.

The Organisation will be facing a number of challenges in the coming years and we have to make sure of two things: firstly that we get the financial resources needed to implement our mandate and secondly that these are used exclusively for the objectives and missions spelled out in the Convention.

The CWC does not need rewriting.

As we all know, a number of central pillars provide the backbone of the Treaty and we shall observe them and act in their fulfilment. Specifically, we will need the means to verify and fully address the fundamental objectives of disarmament and non-proliferation, which are central to the Convention and the Organisation.

At the same time we will make sure that Member States have full access to the assistance and protection they are entitled to and that international co-operation flows as a consequence of the mutually reinforcing pillars. Coming as I do from a developing country, I know all too well the significance of co-operation.

The list of immediate tasks is long, but we shall tackle them with determination.

First, we need to get a budget which is realistic and adequate. One of my top priorities will be to ensure appropriate funding in 2003.

Second, chemical weapons arsenals and former chemical weapon production facilities must be destroyed as soon as possible. We shall try to respond efficiently and promptly to the guidelines and instructions emanating from the Conference and the Executive Council in this important field.

Third, we must remember that there is still a way to go before the Convention becomes truly universal. A number of countries still need to accede or to ratify the Convention.

Fourth, national ability to comply with the CWC must be supported. We will be there assisting Member States in this crucial task.

Fifth, new challenges appear, technical improvement continues, science evolves, industry moves forward at an astonishing pace, and it would not be in our interest that the Technical Secretariat be paralysed by obsolescence or a lack of technological and scientific capabilities.

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Before I close, let me also say a few words to the Staff of the Secretariat.

In my position as Under-Secretary of Foreign Policy of Argentina, I was able to follow very closely the activities of the OPCW. But in the past few weeks, I had the opportunity to become more acquainted with your day-to-day work.

I must say that I admire you.

I admire the way you continued to do your job with devotion and integrity despite the problems of the past several months.

I admire the professionalism you showed in keeping the house up and running, even in the absence of a Director-General, and I think it is only fair that I pay a special and warm tribute to the Acting Director General, Mr John Gee, who made sure that the OPCW would not come to a standstill.

Congratulations, John, and many thanks to you on behalf of all of us.

Let me say to all of you in the Secretariat that I am very proud of you and honoured to be your Director-General and your colleague.

This is time for healing.

Time for regrouping.

Time for committing ourselves with more determination than before.

Mister Chairman,

When the Argentine Government decided to put forward my candidature, it did so as a reaffirmation of our deep commitment of the cause of disarmament and non-proliferation.

I come from a region which is a part of the developing world. One where we have been able to create an area of peace and co-operation, and where weapons of mass destruction have no place.

I bring with me this spirit, and so I am deeply grateful for the support I have received from my regional group. But my debt of gratitude goes beyond the country I represent and the region I come from.

The expressions of support from all groups are something I cherish and you can be sure that without them the task I commence today would have been immensely more difficult.

I can not fail to pay my sincere respects to the three other candidates for the post, Professor Theodros Solomon, my good friend Ambassador Shaukat Umer and Mr Jan Morovic, and to the Governments of Ethiopia, Pakistan and Slovakia for the gracious way in which they contributed to the realisation of my candidature.

I would also like to say a word of recognition to the Permanent Representative of Argentina to the OPCW, my old friend and colleague, Ambassador Alberto Davérède, who in the last few weeks spared no effort to bring about the consensus we enjoy today.

I am sure that seeing me finally go, he is the happiest and most relieved person in the room. Gracias Alberto!

Mister Chairman,

Distinguished delegates,

Ladies and gentlemen of the Technical Secretariat,

Starting now, all my efforts shall be devoted to the success of this Organisation.

I count on your support and guidance to discharge my duties in the best possible way.

It is high time for the OPCW to go back to its normal business.

Let's do so now.

Thank you.

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Categories: Outreach