OPCW Director-General Extends Condolences upon the Death of Dr. John Gee, Former OPCW Deputy Director-General
The Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter, is saddened to learn of the death of Dr. John Gee, a world-renowned expert in chemical disarmament and the former OPCW Deputy Director-General from 1997 to 2003.
Dr. Gee was a career diplomat who served his Government in important postings around the world, acquiring expertise in disarmament and arms control issues. In a career that spanned a wide range of technical issues from nuclear safeguards to biological and chemical disarmament, Dr. Gee was appointed to the UN Special Commission, established to eliminate weapons of mass destruction on the territory of Iraq. He was chosen as the Director of the Verification Division of the Provisional Technical Secretariat in the Preparatory Commission for the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) from 1993 to 1997. When the Chemical Weapons Convention entered into force and the OPCW commenced operation on 29 April 1997, Dr. Gee provided vital support as Deputy Director-General. On Australia Day, 26 January 2007, Dr. Gee was included in the Australia Day Honours list as a Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of his contributions in the field of international relations.
On behalf of the OPCW, Director-General Pfirter extended his condolences to Dr. Gee’s family and expressed the Organisation’s gratitude for Dr. Gee’s dedication to the cause of global chemical disarmament and for his notable contribution to the establishment of the OPCW to carry forth the provisions enshrined in the Convention.PR5 / 2007
Categories: Remembrances, commemorations, condolences
For further information, please contact Michael Luhan, Head, OPCW Media & Public Affairs. Tel: + 31 (0) 70 416 3710 or +31 (0)6 5356 8512 or media@opcw.org | ORGANISATION FOR THE PROHIBITION OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS, Johan de Wittlaan 32, 2517 JR The Hague, The Netherlands
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