Visit to Japan by His Excellency Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter, Director-General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)

August 30, 2007

1. His Excellency Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter, Director-General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), visited Japan from August 26 to 29.

2. On August 27, Director-General Pfirter attended the 19th UN Conference on Disarmament Issues in Sapporo. At the Conference, Director-General Pfirter delivered a keynote speech in a special session commemorating the 10th anniversary of entry-into-force of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). On August 28 in Tokyo, he also gave a speech on the overview and remaining issues of the 10-year-old CWC at the Center for the Promotion of Disarmament and Non-Proliferation of the Japan Institute of International Affairs. Through his two speeches, Director-General Pfirter helped the participants understand the significance of the CWC and the roles and future tasks of the OPCW, and answered active questions from participants.

3. Director-General Pfirter also had a wide-ranging exchange of views with senior government officials including Mr. Shotaro Yachi, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Takemasa Moriya, Vice Minister for Defense, Mr. Yoshinobu Higashi, Vice-Minister for Policy Coordination (Cabinet Office), and Mr. Keikou Terui, Director-General for Manufacturing Industries Policy (METI), on such issues as the roles that the OPCW has been playing for the abolition and non-proliferation of chemical weapons, Japan’s contribution to these roles, the prevention of chemical terrorism, and abandoned chemical weapons in China.

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