Statement by the Director-General at the Special Session of the Conference of the States Parties 21 April 2002
Mr Chairman,
Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
1. Back in 1997, when I decided to accept the request of the Brazilian Government to submit my candidature for the position of Director-General of the OPCW, I considered it, and I still consider it, an honour to be granted the unique opportunity to contribute to the first EVER TRULY global attempt to abolish an entire category of weapons of mass destruction.
2. But more than anything, I decided to run for the post of Director-General because the Chemical Weapons Convention represents the international community’s biggest ever achievement in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation. It is the first – and only – truly non-discriminatory multilateral disarmament treaty in existence – it is a treaty which places equal responsibilities on, and gives equal rights to, all States Parties.
Mr Chairman,
Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
1. Back in 1997, when I decided to accept the request of the Brazilian Government to submit my candidature for the position of Director-General of the OPCW, I considered it, and I still consider it, an honour to be granted the unique opportunity to contribute to the first EVER TRULY global attempt to abolish an entire category of weapons of mass destruction.
2. But more than anything, I decided to run for the post of Director-General because the Chemical Weapons Convention represents the international community’s biggest ever achievement in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation. It is the first – and only – truly non-discriminatory multilateral disarmament treaty in existence – it is a treaty which places equal responsibilities on, and gives equal rights to, all States Parties.