H.E. Mr Vygaudus Ušackas, the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, paid an official visit to the OPCW in The Hague on 20 July 2009.
The OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter, briefed Acting Foreign Minister Ušackas on the status of the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), including the progress being made towards the elimination of global chemical weapons stockpiles and efforts undertaken by the OPCW in other areas of its mandate.
During their discussion, Acting Foreign Minister Ušackas raised the question of sea-dumped chemical weapons in the Baltic Sea. While noting that the issue does not fall within the mandate of the CWC, the Acting Foreign Minister stated that it continues to be of high importance for Lithuania. Director-General Pfirter agreed that the Convention does not address the matter and encouraged Lithuania to continue pursuing a dialogue with other interested countries.
Acting Foreign Minister Ušackas expressed his country’s firm commitment to the goals of the CWC and assured the Director-General of Lithuania’s continuing support for the work of the OPCW. The Director-General commended Lithuania for its implementation of the Convention and for its close cooperation with the OPCW.