Director-General Meets Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic and Opens International Conference on Chemical Weapons Demilitarisation

The OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter, visited the Czech Republic on 25 May 2010 to address the 13th International Chemical Weapons Demilitarisation Conference. In the course of his visit the Director-General also met with the Czech Foreign Minister, H.E. Mr Jan Kohout, together with Ms Dana Drábová, Chairperson of the Czech National Authority, State Office for Nuclear Safety.

During their meeting the Foreign Minister reaffirmed the firm commitment of the Czech Republic to the objectives of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and expressed his appreciation for the work of the OPCW. Director-General Pfirter thanked the Czech Government for its commitment and strong support to the Organisation, as reflected in the training of inspectors and chairing of the Scientific Advisory Board inter alia, and provided the Foreign Minister an update on the status of implementation of the Convention including the destruction of global chemical weapons stockpiles.

In his opening remarks to the conference, Director-General Pfirter highlighted that the OPCW is regarded today as a model of effective multilateralism in the field of disarmament, which he accredited to its Member States who have collectively turned the aspiration of a world free from chemical weapons into an achievable goal. In particular, the Director-General warmly welcomed the attendance for the first time of China and Iraq in the Conference. He cited the new perspectives they bring given their respective national experiences in the context of the weapons present on their territory that need to be destroyed under the terms of the CWC, adding that in both instances the destruction of such weapons poses unique challenges due to the conditions on the ground.

The international series of Chemical Weapons Disarmament conferences brings together the world's largest gathering of professionals involved in the demilitarisation of chemical weapons, many holding senior positions within government, the armed forces, industry, academia and research and developments institutes across the globe. The aim of the conferences is to promote co-operation in addressing and providing potential technical and practical solutions to the key problems associated with chemical weapons disposal.

OPCW NEWS  14/2010 / THE HAGUE, 26 MAY 2010

Categories: Disarmament, Eastern Europe, Outreach