OPCW Director-General’s Visit to Bulgaria

The Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons paid an official visit to the Republic of Bulgaria from 3 to 5 October 2004. Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter’s visit to Bulgaria coincided with the Eighth Annual Assistance and Protection Workshop organized jointly by the Government of Bulgaria and the OPCW in Sofia from 4 to 8 October 2004.

During his visit to Bulgaria, the Director-General met H.E. Mr. Angel Marin, Vice-President of the Republic of Bulgaria. Ambassador Pfirter noted the strong commitment of the Republic of Bulgaria to implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). He also stressed the significance of universal adherence to the Convention and the full and effective implementation of all provisions by Member States in order to ensure its ultimate success.

During his stay in Sofia, the Director-General had meetings with H.E. Mrs. Lydia Shouleva, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Head of the Bulgarian National Authority, H.E. Mr. Plamen Panayotov, Deputy Prime Minister and H.E. Mr. Nedzhmi Ali, Deputy Minister of Defence. Ambassador Pfirter also met with H.E. Mrs. Filiz Husmenova, whose ministerial responsibilities also included the State Agency for Civil Protection, H.E. Mr. Nikola Nikolov, Chairman of the State Agency for Civil Protection General, H.E. Mr. Nikolay Milkov, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and H.E. Mr. Radoslav Bozadzhiev, Deputy Minister of Economy.

In his various meetings in Sofia, Ambassador Pfirter discussed a wide range of issues including progress made in the destruction of chemical weapons stockpiles declared by States Parties to the CWC, efforts to achieve universal adherence to the CWC, strengthening the non-proliferation regime, the need for Member States to have national implementing legislation, the ability for customs authorities to better regulate transfers of chemicals relevant to the Convention, the importance of Member States having export control measures in place to monitor the import and export of scheduled chemicals, related developments in international and regional organisations, including in the European Union, the importance and relevance of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004) for better implementation of the Convention, assistance and protection and international cooperation programmes for the peaceful uses of chemistry.

The Director-General acknowledged the valuable contribution made by the Bulgarian Government to ensure the full and effective implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention by Member States.

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Categories: Eastern Europe, Outreach