As Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, I condemn in the strongest possible terms, the recent multiple use of chlorine gas by groups in Iraq to kill and injure innocent civilians.
The international community has firmly rejected the use of toxic chemicals under any circumstances to inflict harm as demonstrated by the overwhelming international support for the global ban on such weapons. 181 States have joined the Chemical Weapons Convention and Members of the United Nations have unanimously condemned the use of poison gas.
I urge all governments, particularly those in the Middle East region whether or not they are Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention, to join me in stating clearly that the use of poison gas is unacceptable.
Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter
New York
23 February 2007
PR9 / 2007