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Disarmament DocumentationBack to Disarmament Documentation, July 2002 New OPCW Director-General Appointed, July 25I. OPCW Press Release, July 25'OPCW Special Session Appoints Director-General', Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Press Release Number 51, July 25; OPCW website, http://www.opcw.org. The First Special Session of the Conference of the States Parties reconvened on 25 July 2002 to consider and to take a decision on the recommendation of the Executive Council to appoint Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter as the Director-General of the Technical Secretariat of the OPCW. The Conference of the States Parties appointed Ambassador Pfirter by acclamation. The new Director General's four-year term of office commenced immediately upon his appointment. Prior to his appointment, Mr Pfirter, a lawyer and a career diplomat, was the Under-Secretary for Foreign Policy in the Ministry of External Relations, International Trade and Worship, Argentina. The Chairman of the Conference of the States Parties, Ambassador Heinrich Reimann of Switzerland, congratulated Ambassador Pfirter upon his appointment stating, "the Organisation is very fortunate to have been able to recruit an experienced multilateralist, well-versed in negotiating complex issues covering a range of issues from nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, international security, resolving historical conflict and resource management. Ambassador Pfirter is also experienced in overseeing the search for resolution of such issues." Ambassador Reimann noted that the Organisation required dedicated, focussed and vigorous leadership at the moment since the chemical weapons destruction activity of the States Parties will accelerate significantly in the next four years. "As the Convention foresees, the next four years represent a critical phase in the successful implementation[Image]of a chemical weapons ban. Leadership within the Technical Secretariat that returns its undivided attention to this most ambitious disarmament effort is essential. We have placed our full confidence in Ambassador Pfirter's ability to provide that leadership." Mr Pfirter thanked the delegations for their unanimous support and asserted, "We wish to open a new chapter. First, one of my top priorities will be to ensure appropriate funding in 2003. The destruction of chemical weapons and their production facilities must be completed as soon as possible. A number of countries have yet to join the Organisation and should do so without delay. And finally, the Technical Secretariat must keep pace with new technological challenges and scientific advances to maintain the Convention's security relevance." The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) came into existence on 29 April 1997. Its deed of foundation - the Chemical Weapons Convention - aims to achieve four principal objectives: the elimination of chemical weapons and of the capacity to develop them, the verification of non-proliferation, international assistance and protection in the event of the use or threat of use of chemical weapons, and international cooperation and assistance in the peaceful use of chemistry. II. OPCW Press Release, July 16'Executive Council Recommends H.E. Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter Be Appointed As The Director-General Of The Technical Secretariat Of The OPCW', OPCW Press Release Number 50, July 16. The Executive Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) held its Nineteenth Meeting on 16 July 2002 in The Hague. H.E. Ambassador Lionel Fernando, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the OPCW, chaired the meeting. During this meeting, the Executive Council decided, by acclamation, to recommend to the Conference of the States Parties, that H.E. Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter from Argentina be appointed the Director-General of the Technical Secretariat of the OPCW for a term of four years. Ambassador Pfirter, a lawyer and a career diplomat, is at present the Under-Secretary for Foreign Policy in the Ministry of External Relations, International Trade and Worship, Argentina. The First Special Session of the Conference of the States Parties will reconvene on 25 July 2002 to consider and to take a decision on the recommendation of the Executive Council to appoint Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter as the Director-General of the Technical Secretariat of the OPCW. III. US Statement, July 25'Appointment of Rogelio Pfirter as the new Director-General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons', statement by Richard Boucher, US State Department, Office of the Spokesman, July 25. Today a Special Conference of the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention appointed by acclamation Rogelio Pfirter of Argentina as the new Director-General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. Ambassador Pfirter is a lawyer and career diplomat with a distinguished career in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Argentina. He has an outstanding record on non-proliferation and we believe he will do an excellent job in leading the OPCW to carry out its essential role in the overall global effort against weapons of mass destruction. The United States strongly supports the Chemical Weapons Convention and its implementing organization. We look forward to developing a solid relationship with Director-General Pfirter as he takes the necessary steps to address the Organization's financial and management concerns. © 2002 The Acronym Institute. |