Vice Minister of Industry of Viet Nam Meets OPCW Director-General

On 9 November 2005, H.E. Mr Nguyen Xuan Thuy, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Industry, Viet Nam, and the Chairman of the Chemical Weapons Convention National Authority, met Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter, the Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), in The Hague. Director-General Pfirter provided Vice Minister Xuan Thuy an overview of the Chemical Weapons Convention's (CWC) current status of implementation.

On behalf of his Government, Vice Minister Xuan Thuy reaffirmed the staunch support of Viet Nam for the aims and goals of the chemical weapons ban and expressed full support for the work of the OPCW in implementing the CWC.

Director-General Pfirter expressed on behalf of the Organisation his gratitude for Viet Nam's continuing support for the CWC's full implementation and welcomed Viet Nam's cooperation in ensuring that all OPCW Member States receive the support they may require to ensure that the CWC can be applied in full and effectively within the national jurisdiction of every Member State.

Director-General Pfirter also noted the vital role of Member States' National Authorities in monitoring their national chemical industry and ensuring that the chemical weapons ban can be effectively enforced within their jurisdiction.

H.E. Mr Nguyen Xuan Thuy emphasised that although numerous challenges lie ahead in the implementation of the Convention by Member States, Viet Nam believes that with the continued efforts of the OPCW and the collective efforts and cooperation of Member States, these challengers can be overcome to achieve the effective implementation of the Convention.

78/2005

Categories: Asia, Outreach