OPCW Director-General Addresses UN Disarmament Conference Challenges and Chemical Terrorism Discussed in Sapporo, Japan

On 27 August 2007 OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter, addressed the 19th United Nations Conference on Disarmament Issues in Sapporo, Japan.

On 27 August 2007 OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter, addressed the 19th United Nations Conference on Disarmament Issues in Sapporo, Japan.

The Conference, entitled “New Vision and Required Leadership Towards a World Free from Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction”, brought together a number of participants from governments, academia and nongovernmental organizations to discuss the issues of disarmament and non-proliferation.

The Conference was opened by H.E. Mr Sérgio Duarte, UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, and H.E. Ambassador. Takeshi Nakane, Director General of the Disarmament, Non-proliferation and Science Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. They both expressed the hope that the Conference will come up with fresh ideas and proposals on how to introduce much needed dynamism in dealing with the issues that are the theme of the meeting.

In his keynote address at a special session of the Conference devoted to the tenth anniversary of entry into force of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), Director-General Pfirter gave an overview of the status of implementation of the CWC, highlighting the achievements and challenges in the ten years of the existence of the Convention.

The full and strict implementation of the Convention prohibiting an entire category of weapons of mass destructions (WMD) becomes even more important at the times when threat of weapons of mass destruction constitutes one of the most pressing challenges to global peace and security. In addition, the threat posed by terrorist groups in acquiring and using these weapons makes the issue of WMD even more important.

Director-General Pfirter drew attention to the universal adherence to the CWC as one of the crucial issues and noted that today only 13 countries are not members of the CWC. Director-General Pfirter launched another appeal urging all of them to join the family of states that are united in the decision never to produce or use these abhorrent weapons.

Praising the cooperation among the 182 Member States, Director-General Pfirter commended the support and active participation of Japan in the OPCW.

Director-General Pfirter also recalled that a high–level meeting devoted to the CWC will be held on 27 September 2007, at the margins of the 62nd session of the UN General Assembly in New York. The meeting is designed to raise awareness as well as support for the CWC.

During this Conference, the OPCW Director-General met H.E. Mr. Sérgio Duarte, UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs; and discussed further development of the cooperation between the OPCW and the Office of Disarmament Affairs within the already-existing

PR84 / 2007

Categories: Asia, Disarmament, OPCW and the UN