OPCW Director-General Visits Bulgaria

Opens a regional meeting jointly with the Bulgarian Minister of Economy and Energy, H.E. Mr Petar Dimitrov

Bulgarian Minister of Economy and Energy, H.E. Mr Petar Dimitrov

On 26 May 2009, the Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter, paid an official visit to the Republic of Bulgaria for the Eighth Regional Meeting of National Authorities of States Parties in Eastern Europe. The Minister of Economy and Energy, H.E. Mr Petar Dimitrov, and Director-General Pfirter jointly opened the Regional Meeting which was organised by the Government of Bulgaria in conjunction with the OPCW from 26 to 28 May 2009.

In his opening address, Director-General Pfirter drew attention to the consistent support from States Parties in Eastern Europe to the work of the OPCW. In this context, he mentioned the forthcoming events taking place in Eastern Europe in June 2009, namely the “Fifth International Basic Course on Assistance and Protection” in Kruševac, Serbia; and an “International Seminar on National Implementation of Non-Proliferation Obligations: the OPCW as an Example of Effective Assistance in National Implementation of the CWC”, in Jahorina, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

During his visit to Bulgaria, Director-General Pfirter also held bilateral discussions with the Minister of Economy and Energy, H.E. Mr Petar Dimitrov, on a wide range of issues pertaining to the CWC, including the importance of effective national implementation of the CWC in the region, and achieving universal adherence to the CWC in the Middle East.

The Minister of Economy and Energy reaffirmed Bulgaria’s firm commitment to the goals of the CWC and assured the Director-General of his country’s unwavering support for the work of the OPCW.

Director-General Pfirter commended Bulgaria for its implementation of the CWC and its close cooperation with the OPCW.

While in Bulgaria, the Director-General also met with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mr Todor Churov, and the Chairman of the Foreign Policy Committee of the National Assembly of Bulgaria, H.E. Mr Solomon Passy. In these meetings different issues relating to the implementation of the CWC and the work of the OPCW were addressed.