The Open-Ended Working Group for the Second Review Conference (WGRC) held its first meeting on 7 July 2006. The WGRC’s Chairman, H.E. Ambassador Lyn Parker, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom, opened the session, attended by representatives of 44 States Parties, including the Vice-Chairs: the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mexico, the Russian Federation, and The Sudan.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Parker informed the WGRC of the agreement reached by WGRC Bureau meeting that all States Parties must be accorded every opportunity to express their views and to contribute to the organisation of the work of the Second Review Conference, and that the work of the First Review Conference as recorded in the official Report serves as a good starting point for establishing a structure for the Working Group’s discussions (http://www.opcw.org/docs/rc105.pdf).
The Working Group endorsed these principles.
Several delegations expressed opinions in the course of the ensuing general discussion on the review process, and it was agreed that this discussion would be resumed at the next meeting.
In remarks to the WGRC’s first meeting, OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter commended the review process’ early start and informed the Working Group of steps taken by the Technical Secretariat in preparation for the Second Review Conference. He reiterated the availability of the Technical Secretariat to provide any assistance required by the Working Group.
The Working Group agreed to fix the dates of the Second Review Conference from 7 to 18 April 2008. The WGRC will hold its next two meetings on 29 September 2006 and 13 November 2006.
PR40 / 2006