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<img src="/images/header.gif" alt="Center for Strageic Decision Research: Celebrating over 25 years of international dialogue. International workshop on global security." width="618" height="99" style="padding:20px 10px;" />
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<p align="center" class="style17">Table of Contents<br>
25th International Workshop - Rome '08</p>
<p align="center" class="style17">
<a href="/2008book/weissinger-preface.html">Preface- Dr. Roger<br>Weissinger-Baylon<br>Workshop Chairman<br></a>
<a href="/2008book/weissinger-overview.html">Workshop Chairman's Overview - Dr. Roger Weissinger-Baylon</a>
<a href="/2008book/joulwan.html">Opening Dinner Debate - <br>General George Joulwan<br>Former SACEUR</a>
<p>
<p align="center" class="style17">Part One<p>
<p align="center" class="style17">
<a href="/2008book/la-russa.html">Italian Defense Minister<br />
Ignazio La Russa
</a>
<a href="/2008book/browne.html">British Defense Minister<br />
The Rt Hon Des Browne
</a>
<a href="/2008book/gonul.html">Turkish Defense Minister<br />
Vecdi G�n�l
</a>
<a href="/2008book/di-paola.html">NATO Military Committee Chairman<br />
Admiral Giampaolo Di Paola
</a>
<a href="/2008book/zappata.html">Admiral Luciano Zappata<br />
Dep Supreme Allied
Commander Transformation
</a>
<a href="/2008book/camporini.html">Italian Chief of Defense<br />
General Vincenzo Camporini
</a>
<a href="/2008book/zappa.html">Alenia Aeronautica Chairman<br />
Dr. Giorgio Zappa
</a>
<br>Part Two<br>
<p align="center" class="style17">
<a href="/2008book/baramidze.html">Georgian Vice Prime Minister<br />
Giorgi Baramidze
</a>
<a href="/2008book/chizhov.html">Russian Amb to EU<br />
Vladimir Chizhov
</a>
<br>Part Three<br>
<p align="center" class="style17">
<a href="/2008book/eldon.html">British Amb to NATO<br />
Stewart Eldon
</a>
<a href="/2008book/akram.html">Pakistan's Amb to U.N.<br />
Munir Akram
</a>
<a href="/2008book/de-la-sabliere.html">French Amb to Italy<br />
Jean-Marc de la Sabli�re
</a>
<a href="/2008book/tkeshelashvili.html">Georgian Foreign Minister<br />
Eka Tkeshelashvili
</a>
<a href="/2008book/stefanini.html">Italian Amb to NATO<br />
Stefano Stefanini
</a>
<a href="/2008book/buzhinsky.html">Lt Gen Evgeniy Buzhinsky<br />
Russian Min of Defense
</a>
<a href="/2008book/winid.html">Polish Amb to NATO<br />
Boguslaw Winid
</a>
<br>Part Four<br>
<p align="center" class="style17">
<a href="/2008book/tegnelia.html">DTRA Director<br />
Dr. James Tegnelia
</a>
<a href="/2008book/rood.html">U.S. Under Sec of State<br />
John Rood
</a>
<a href="/2008book/joseph.html">Former Under Sec of State<br />
Amb Robert Joseph</a>
<a href="/2008book/berdennikov.html">Russian Amb-at-large<br />
Grigory V. Berdennikov
</a>
<a href="/2008book/benkert.html">U.S. Asst Sec of Defense<br />
Joseph Benkert
</a>
<a href="/2008book/flory.html">NATO Asst Sec Gen<br />
Peter Flory
</a>
<a href="/2008book/sedivy.html">NATO Asst Sec Gen<br />
Jiri Sedivy
</a>
<a href="/2008book/pfirter.html">OPCW Dir Gen<br />
Amb Rogelio Pfirter
</a>
<br>Part Five<br>
<p align="center" class="style17">
<a href="/2008book/lather.html">SHAPE Chief of Staff<br />
General Karl-Heinz Lather
</a>
<a href="/2008book/fitzgerald.html">Admiral Mark. P. Fitzgerald
<br />
Allied Joint Force Command Naples
</a>
<a href="/2008book/ildem.html">Turkish Amb to NATO<br />
Tacan Ildem
</a>
<a href="/2008book/schuwirth.html">Fmr SHAPE Chief of Staff<br />
General Rainer Schuwirth
</a>
<a href="/2008book/acosta.html">Global Impact CEO<br />
Ms. Renee Acosta
</a>
<a href="/2008book/soligan.html">Lt Gen James Soligan<br />
Allied Command-Transformation
</a>
<a href="/2008book/bagnall.html">Former UK Vice Chief of Defense Staff<br />
ACM Sir Anthony Bagnall
</a>
<br>Part Six
<p align="center" class="style17">
<a href="/2008book/volkman.html">U.S. Dir of Internat. Coop.<br />
Alfred Volkman
</a>
<a href="/2008book/tozzi.html">Major General Claudio Tozzi<br />
Italian Defense Ministry
</a>
<a href="/2008book/homberg.html">EADS Senior Vice Pres<br />
Thomas Homberg
</a>
<a href="/2008book/shephard.html">Northrop Grumman VP<br />
Mr. Timothy Shephard
</a>
<a href="/2008book/buckley.html">Thales Senior VP<br />
Dr. Edgar Buckley
</a>
<a href="/2008book/harris.html">Lockheed Martin Global Pres.<br />
Dr. Scott A. Harris
</a>
<a href="/2008book/schneider.html">AFCEA CEO<br />
Kent Schneider
</a>
<a href="/2008book/patterson.html">Mr. David Patterson<br />
Univ of Tennessee
</a>
<p align="center" class="style17">Part Seven
<p align="center" class="style17" style="margin-bottom: 0;">
<a href="/2008book/grimes.html">U.S. Asst Sec of Def<br />
Hon. John G. Grimes
</a>
<a href="/2008book/lentz.html">U.S. Dep Asst Sec of Def<br />
Robert Lentz
</a>
<a href="/2008book/aaviksoo.html">Estonian Defense Minister<br />
Jaak Aaviksoo
</a>
<a href="/2008book/bloechl.html">Microsoft, Managing Dir.<br />
Tim Bloechl
</a>
<a href="/2008book/wolf.html">Lt Gen Ulrich Wolf<br />
NATO CIS Service Agency Dir
</a>
<a href="/2008book/monteforte.html">Italian Milrep to NATO<br />
Vice Adm Ferdinando Sanfelice di Monteforte
</a>
<a href="/2008book/lintonen.html">Finnish Amb to UN<br />
Kirsti Lintonen
</a>
<a href="/2008book/silvestri.html">Dr. Stefano Silvestri<br />
Istituto Affari Internazionali
</a>
<a href="/2008book/yousfi.html">Algerian Amb to UN<br />
Youcef Yousfi
</a>
<a href="/2008book/karem.html">Egyptian Amb to EU<br />
Mahmoud Karem
</a>
<a href="/2008book/tarasyuk.html">Former Ukrainian Foreign Minister<br />
Borys Tarasyuk
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div id="content">
<div class="story">
<h2 class="workshop_year">Rome '08 Workshop</h2>
<!-- InstanceBeginEditable name="Main Content" -->
<h1>
The Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction—What Are The Real Threats
and How Should We Respond? </h1>
<h2 style="margin-bottom: 0;">
Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter</h2>
<h2 style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;">Director General, OPCW </h2>
<h2 style="margin-top: 0;"><img src="images/pfirter.jpg" alt="Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter" width="116" height="143"></h2>
<h2>OPENING REMARKS </h2>
<p>
It is a great pleasure to have once again the opportunity to address the
International Workshop on Global Security. This annual event provides an
important forum for debating issues that are of relevance to our contemporary
security environment. I am sure that, as in the past, the results of the
debate will contribute to bringing forward our common thinking on the possible
solutions to the continuously evolving threats and challenges that the
international community presently faces. </p>
<p>
I am also particularly grateful to Minister Ignazio La Russa, the Minister
of Defense of Italy, for supporting this meeting. His support bears testimony
to his country’s continued commitment to promoting a more peaceful and
stable world, including as a reliable partner of the Organization for the
Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) as it promotes the goals enshrined
in the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). As a tool that aims to eliminate
forever the possibility of the use of chemical weapons, the convention
represents a key instrument in the framework of the international community’s
efforts towards addressing the threat of weapons of mass destruction. </p>
<h2> THE URGENT NEED TO IMPLEMENT THE CWC</h2>
<p>
Especially in the context of the current global challenges that arise from
the possible misuse of dangerous materials for terrorist purposes, the
threat of chemical terrorism cannot be underestimated. The ease of access
to dual-use chemicals, and the readily available knowledge of the technologies
required to manufacture chemical weapons, make them a potential instrument
of choice for terrorists. At the same time, as much as the chemical industry
is a core industry in our contemporary world, one whose products sustain
modern life and progress, we have to make sure that advances in this area
are exclusively used for the benefit of mankind and never diverted to cause
unspeakable suffering. </p>
<p>
The full and effective implementation of the CWC represents an effective
as well as an urgent response to these challenges. The convention aims
to achieve complete chemical disarmament and to ensure that chemistry is
solely used and developed for the benefit of mankind. It sets up a comprehensive
and universal regime without gaps, exceptions, or strategic reservations.
The strength of the convention lies in the fact that all of the state-parties’
rights and obligations are granted and applied equally as much as it rests
on the establishment of a stringent international verification mechanism
aimed to promote compliance and confidence-building among its parties. </p>
<p>
The creation of an effective and reliable global verification system that
operates in a nondiscriminatory and multilateral manner provides assurances
on both the disarmament process and the legitimate chemical industry activities
that are of direct relevance to the nonproliferation of chemical weapons.
The crucial goals of disarmament and nonproliferation are complemented,
under the convention, by the objectives set out in Articles X and XI of
the convention, which give state-parties the right to receive assistance
and protection against chemical weapons and to foster international cooperation
in the field of peaceful chemical activities by the state-parties. </p>
<h2> OPCW PROGRESS</h2>
<p>
Today, we have come a long way towards realizing our mandate under the
convention. Whereas in other areas of disarmament disagreement and lack
of political will are hindering the delicate process of eliminating the
most inhumane means of destruction ever conceived, the OPCW is progressing
steadily towards realizing the vision of a world free from one of them—chemical
weapons. </p>
<p>
One hundred and eighty-four states are presently parties to the convention.
Such general acceptance by a large majority of the international community
is evidence of the collective and firm resolve to achieve the elimination
of all chemical weapons from our world and of the importance that states
attach to this crucial disarmament and nonproliferation treaty. The disarmament
agenda is making important progress, with about 28,500 metric tons, or
over 40% of the 71,000 metric tons of declared chemical weapons agents
already destroyed, and with all chemical weapons production facilities
deactivated. </p>
<p>
The OPCW systematically verifies the destruction of chemical weapons stockpiles
and the destruction or conversion for peaceful purposes of former chemical
weapons production facilities. At the same time, a system of industry verification
through data monitoring and on-site inspections that provides additional
assurances of nonproliferation has been set up under Article VI of the
convention. Since its entry into force, OPCW inspection teams have carried
out more than 3,300 inspections at approximately 1,250 military and industrial
sites in over 80 countries. </p>
<p>
As an organization, the OPCW promotes a philosophy of dialogue, compromise,
and confidence-building among its members. This allows true multilateralism
to nourish the intergovernmental process in our policy-making organs. Last
April, the organization went through a successful exercise of diplomacy,
the second of its kind in its relatively brief history. At the Second Special
Session of the state-parties conference to review the operation of the
Chemical Weapons Convention, our member-states reached consensus on a number
of issues of key importance to the future of the convention and that are
crucial for realizing a world that will be forever free of the threat of
chemical weapons. </p>
<h2> BECOMING A NONPROLIFERATION ORGANIZATION</h2>
<p>
One of the areas on which the conference concentrated its attention is
the consideration that, as we approach the completion of the destruction
of declared chemical weapons stockpiles, the OPCW will gradually shift
its emphasis from being mainly a disarmament body to being primarily a
nonproliferation organization. While continuing to implement effectively
its regular verification program, the organization will also dedicate particular
attention to preventing the reemergence of chemical weapons; keeping apace
with developments in science, technology, and industry that might affect
the convention; and ensuring the effective implementation of the regime
relating to the transfer of chemicals. It will be important for the Secretariat
and the OPCW as a whole to be ready for this new stage in the life of the
organization. </p>
<p>
In regard to industry verification, it will be crucial to continue developing
the regime in a way that balances the underlying risks while ensuring adequate
levels of verification of all chemical facilities that can be inspected.
In particular, there is justifiable concern about the adequacy of the present
level of inspections at a specific category of facilities—what we refer
to as Other Chemical Production Facilities (OCPFs)—which, because of their
technological characteristics, could be easily and quickly reconfigured
for the production of chemical weapons. </p>
<p>
One additional challenge that we face in implementing the verification
regime set up in the convention is keeping abreast of advances in science
and technology, where progress has given us unprecedented prosperity and
opportunities for the economic growth of all nations. Yet when misused,
the same knowledge can become a cause of unimaginable destruction and misery.
It is greatly important that we study new developments in science and technology
to help us understand what they mean for this convention and regarding
their implementation. </p>
<p>
We expect these matters to receive close attention from state-parties,
especially through their support of the work of the OPCW Scientific Advisory
Board and its temporary working groups. The continuing cooperation of scientists
and chemists worldwide, as well as of the chemical industry, is also vital
to our success, including in terms of spreading among those communities
a culture of responsibility as a key tool for ensuring that progress in
chemistry is used exclusively for the benefit of mankind. In this important
area, the OPCW is working with the International Union of Pure and Applied
Chemistry (IUPAC) with a view to finalize specific codes of conduct. As
I mentioned earlier, our contemporary security challenges include the need
for greater cooperation to combat international terrorism. </p>
<p>
In the area of chemical weapons, the deadly consequences of their use has
unfortunately been demonstrated in practice on more than one occasion.
We are all well aware that toxic chemical compounds can be acquired throughout
the world. The know-how for producing simple chemical weapons is widely
available, as recent instances in Iraq in which chlorine was used in terrorist
attacks have tragically shown. </p>
<p>
Without in any way departing from its specific mandate and competencies,
because it has unique technical expertise and a model way of supporting
state-parties in their implementation needs, the OPCW can significantly
contribute, especially within the United Nations Security Council’s action
under Resolution 1540. This resolution imposes an obligation on all U.N.
member-states to adopt a series of concrete legal and administrative measures
to prevent non-state actors from gaining access to weapons of mass destruction.
Regarding chemical weapons, the requirements of Resolution 1540 coincide
with the obligations enshrined in the convention. </p>
<p>
For its part, the convention requires that all state-parties put in place
legal mechanisms that would deny access to chemical weapons and toxic chemicals
by persons, groups, and other entities. If effectively implemented, the
convention will be an essential tool to help prevent the use of toxic chemicals
for illegitimate purposes. </p>
<h2>PROVIDING ASSISTANCE AND PROTECTION</h2>
<p>
The Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, adopted on September 8, 2006, by
the U.N. General Assembly, has made clear the international community’s
expectation that the OPCW will support collective efforts to eliminate
the scourge of terrorism. It has also recognized the role of organizations
such as the IAEA and the OPCW in such areas as capacity-building for protection
and assistance against weapons of mass destruction. </p>
<p>
Indeed, in the face of increasing threats of terrorism, the salience of
OPCW programs in the field of assistance and protection has also increased.
As we face this scourge, the organization will need to continue to improve
its own capability to effectively respond to requests for assistance. The
OPCW therefore continues its endeavors to effectively mobilize the international
response that would be required in situations in which chemical weapons
had been used or were threatened to be used. As part of our efforts in
this context, the full national implementation of the convention as envisioned
in its Article VII is not just an imperative for the sake of compliance
but, increasingly, a useful additional tool for each country’s security,
especially since it provides a regulatory framework that would deter any
use of toxic chemicals by anyone who intends to perpetrate crime or terror. </p>
<p>
It is also crucial for us to achieve universal adherence to the convention
at the earliest possible time. The conference has reiterated that universality
of the convention is essential to achieving its objective and purpose,
which is to eliminate the threat of chemical weapons comprehensively and
without exception. The realization of this goal will remain elusive so
long as there exists even a single country that possesses both the capability
and the intention to retain the chemical weapons option. </p>
<p>
Fortunately, we know that most of the 11 remaining states have not joined
because they are simply constrained by a lack of resources. At the same
time, though, we know that our task will not be easy because non-party-states
in such areas as the Middle East and the Korean Peninsula justify their
resistance to joining because of a number of considerations relating to
the political and security situation in their respective regions. It will
be crucial for us to continue to work with these countries to bring them
into the OPCW family at the earliest possible date. </p>
<p>
Our member-states have shown remarkable goodwill and dedication in building
a strong and vibrant multilateral organization. They have done this work
through policy-making organs and also by fully utilizing the opportunities
the OPCW offers as a forum for consultation and cooperation to resolve
issues and provide guidance for better implementation of the convention
and its goals. Our member-states have made an invaluable contribution not
just to the practical functioning of the OPCW, but to the overall confidence-building
process that is indispensable for the eventual success of the convention. </p>
<h2>CONCLUDING REMARKS</h2>
<p>
Although we have good reasons to be satisfied with the work of our organization
and to remain fully supportive of its continued efforts to fulfil its mandate,
it is also vitally important that we ensure not only the full and effective
implementation of the convention, but also its ready adaptation to our
fast-changing world and to the challenges, both technical and security,
that it generates. </p>
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