OPCW Director-General Addresses the United Nations

On 21 October 2004, the Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter addressed the 59th Session of the United Nations General Assembly and delivered the Organisation’s report on the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in the previous two years. In that time, 20 new Member States had joined the OPCW, bringing total membership to 166 Member States. In addition, a further two States Parties, Albania and the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, had declared chemical weapons stockpiles. Six States Parties are now engaged in the destruction of their declared chemical weapons stockpiles.

Ambassador Pfirter emphasized that while progress towards universality was being made and a number of signatory and non-signatory States are expected to join the CWC in the near future, this success should not lead to complacency because a few important countries still remain outside the realm of the chemical weapons ban. He further reiterated the OPCW’s conviction that nothing can justify the use or retention of chemical weapons, in particular since these weapons, banned forever throughout the world by a multilateral treaty negotiated under the aegis of the UN, can only be used effectively against unprotected civilians. He asked, “What could now justify refraining from joining this treaty?”

As an added incentive for States to join the CWC and eliminating any chemical weapons stockpiles or production capacity, the Director-General reported that given the approval of the Conference of States Parties, two facilities in Rabta, Libya, which, having once been used to manufacture weapons of mass destruction, will now be converted to produce low cost medicines for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and other diseases for distribution in Africa. Ambassador Pfirter noted that the Convention offers new Member States an opportunity to turn their capacities away from the pursuit of nefarious purposes and towards the pursuit of the commonweal.

The Director-General explained that international cooperation and assistance in the peaceful uses of chemistry go hand in hand with disarmament and non-proliferation. The OPCW provides support to developing nations through a variety of programmes to reinforce technical capacities and skills. Similarly, in the area of assistance and protection against the use or threat of use of chemical weapons, Member States receive training, while national protection capacity is fostered.

Within the framework of the Relationship Agreement, concluded between the United Nations and the OPCW, the Director-General, on behalf of the OPCW, has offered the chairs of the Counter-Terrorism Committee and of the Committee on Resolution 1540 any technical assistance, information, and advice that are required to prevent the ominous possibility that terrorist groups might gain access to chemical-warfare agents. Ambassador Pfirter underscored the importance of industry verification at a time when there are serious concerns over the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. He noted that the OPCW is very active on this front, counting on the unstinting support of Member States and industrial associations the world over, who want to see the legitimacy of their activities validated by the OPCW’s verification regime.

Director-General Pfirter also stressed that much more remains to be done in the adoption of national legislation and the establishment of the National Authorities required to make the Convention effective in ensuring that chemical weapons are not used and to prevent their re-emergence. Roughly 40% of the States Parties have legislation in place that can be considered comprehensive and adequate. He informed the General Assembly that since many countries have to overcome bureaucratic or financial obstacles, the OPCW is ready to assist them, upon their request, to swiftly resolve these problems.

53/2004

Categories: OPCW and the UN