Rome Workshop on Chemical Weapons Ban in the Middle East Opens

The Director-General of the OPCW, Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter, has appealed to the countries in the Middle East to banish the prospect of chemical weapons from the region. He spoke at the Third OPCW Workshop to promote the universality of the Chemical Weapons Convention among States in the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East, and neighboring regions being held in Rome, Italy from 25 to 27 October 2006. The Workshop, organized jointly by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the Government of Italy, received financial support from the European Union.

In his address to the Workshop, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mr Ugo Intini, underlined that the Chemical Weapons Convention is one of the fundamental cornerstones in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation. Minister Intini stated that the Chemical Weapons Convention is addressed to all countries in the world without exception, ensuring the complete elimination of the existing stockpiles of chemical weapons under international supervision and guaranteeing an effective safeguard against their future development and use. He noted that the Chemical Weapons Convention not only increases stability and security but contributes also in a significant manner to prevent terrorist actions. Minister Intini emphasized that the Convention’s universality is the fundamental prerequisite for the achievement of these results.

In his opening remarks to the Workshop, Director-General Pfirter outlined the historical, legal and humanitarian imperatives that had led the international community to regard chemical weapons as totally unacceptable anywhere in the world. He recalled that 180 nations implement the global ban on chemical weapons and urged the countries in the Middle East to join the international community and make the Chemical Weapons Convention truly universal. He stressed that chemical weapons offered scant military utility against armed forces equipped to fight in a chemically contaminated environment. He stated that these weapons could only cause massive casualties and misery among unprotected civilians and were therefore to be regarded as weapons of terror rather than weapons of deterrence.

The Workshop in Rome follows similar universality-related events held in Malta and Cyprus in 2004 and 2005, respectively. These workshops serve to raise awareness of the CWC in the Mediterranean Basin and the Middle East, as well as to provide an expert discussion of the issues commonly encountered in joining the Convention and the measures required to implement it. The Rome Workshop was attended by government representatives from Lebanon, Iraq, Israel, and the Syrian Arab Republic, as well as a representative from the Cairo University in Egypt. These countries have yet to join the Chemical Weapons Convention.

Bearing in mind the difficulties experienced in the sub-region in the recent past, Ambassador Pfirter highlighted the fact that this gathering of experts from Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, and the Syrian Arab Republic at the same table for focussed dialogue on the Chemical Weapons Convention was a positive development.

The Director-General welcomed Iraq’s intention to join the Convention in the near future and also informed the Workshop that the Foreign Relations Committee of the Lebanese Parliament recently approved the text of the Convention, which is now before the Assembly for action. He underscored that these developments demonstrate that universality in the Middle East is achievable and not a utopian goal.

On behalf of the OPCW, Ambassador Pfirter assured the Workshop participants that the Organisation’s offer of assistance is extended to any country preparing to join the Convention, an offer which in many cases in the Middle East has been accepted with notable success. He called upon the States that have yet to join the CWC to act without delay since the tragedy, the dangers, and the uncertainties confronting the Middle East do not allow the luxury of procrastination.

Ambassador Pfirter expressed gratitude to the Government of Italy for its generous hospitality that further confirmed its long-standing and tangible commitment to the global ban on chemical weapons. He also acknowledged the substantial support provided by the European Union, whose financial contribution under its Joint Action had made the Rome Workshop and several other activities of the OPCW possible.

PR72 / 2006

Categories: Universality