The OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter, visited Rome, Italy on 19 June 2008 and delivered an address to the 25th International Workshop on Global Security. The event was organised by the Center for Strategic Decision Research.
Addressing the issue of “Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction – What are the Real Threats and How Should We Respond?”, the OPCW Director-General gave an overview of threats to the contemporary security environment in the area of chemical weapons, and of ways that the Chemical Weapons Convention provides an effective response to them. In this context he addressed issues relating to the full and effective implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention by all States Parties, especially as regards the OPCW’s verification mechanisms and non-proliferation regime and the vital importance of achieving universality.
Director-General Pfirter noted that the OPCW has established an effective and reliable global verification system that operates in a non-discriminatory and multilateral manner, which provides assurances for both the disarmament process and legitimate chemical industry activities that are relevant to non-proliferation of chemical weapons.
The Director-General also addressed key future challenges facing the OPCW. These include preventing the re-emergence of chemical weapons, responding to new developments in science and technology, strengthening cooperation against international terrorism, ensuring full national implementation of the Convention as envisioned in Article VII, and achieving universal adherence to the Convention.
The Center for Strategic Decision Research is a research institute in California, USA which organises the International Workshop on Global Security on an annual basis in major European cities to discuss global security challenges.