OPCW Director-General Visits Bosnia and Herzegovina and Opens International Seminar on Non-proliferation Obligations

On 22 June 2009 the OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter, paid an official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina where he met with H.E. Dr Haris Silajdzic, Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and H.E. Mr Sven Alkalaj, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

In his meetings with Dr Silajdzic and Foreign Minister Alkalaj, Director-General Pfirter provided an overview on the global implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). The discussions focussed inter alia on effective national implementation. Dr Silajdzic and Foreign Minister Alkalaj reaffirmed Bosnia and Herzegovina’s strong commitment to the objectives of the CWC and expressed their Government’s firm support for the work of the OPCW in implementing the global chemical weapons ban.

Director-General Pfirter commended Bosnia and Herzegovina for its unwavering commitment to the CWC and work of the Organisation. He reaffirmed the Technical Secretariat’s commitment to further strengthening cooperation with all States Parties in the Balkan sub-region in order to fully realise the objectives of the Convention.

The Director-General and Foreign Minister Alkalaj jointly opened the “International Seminar on National Implementation of Non-proliferation Obligations: The OPCW as an Example of Effective Assistance in National Implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention,” which was organised by the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina in conjunction with the OPCW.

In his opening address Director-General Pfirter noted that the CWC is an effective instrument against proliferation because of its comprehensive prohibition against chemical weapons and stringent verification regime. He highlighted the role of National Authorities in effectively countering the challenges posed by non-state actors and possibility of proliferation of WMDs, by ensuring the effective implementation of the CWC. The Director-General noted with satisfaction that all countries in the Balkans have now established a CWC National Authority and made significant progress in enacting implementing legislation to cover all key areas of the Convention.

Categories: Eastern Europe, Outreach