On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Entry into Force of the Chemical Weapons Convention and the founding of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the Foreign Minister of the Netherlands, H.E. Maxime Verhagen, extended his congratulations to the OPCW and its Director-General, Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter, on the establishment and effective operation of one of the most successful multilateral organisations in non-proliferation and arms control.
Foreign Minister Verhagen underscored that the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention through its 182 States Parties has brought the achievement of the objective of chemical disarmament closer. On behalf of his Government, he expressed his pride in hosting the OPCW in The Hague. Foreign Minister Verhagen recalled that numerous challenges remain in the field of chemical disarmament and non-proliferation in the future, although it is important to celebrate the past decade’s achievements.
PR38 / 2007