The US has launched a campaign to oust the Director General of the organization responsible for monitoring compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention. Thus far in the campaign, Canada has been supporting the US. This is to be regretted. An important principle is at stake and Canada should reverse its stance and start supporting the Director General.
In force since 1997, the Convention now has 145 parties, including US, Russia and China. It lacks only Israel, several of its middle-eastern neighbours and a few other mostly small countries.
The Convention establishes its own organization for monitoring compliance: the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). The Director General of the OPCW is a Brazilian diplomat, José Bustani, reappointed in 2000 unanimously by the 145 States Parties for a four-year term expiring 2005. At the OPCW headquarters in The Hague, Mr. Bustani supervises a “Technical Secretariat” comprising some 500 inspectors and technical personnel.
Up to May 2000, the US was giving Bustani its full support. (It was in May 2000 that his appointment was extended by acclamation for a second term.) Shortly after this date, with the coming of the Bush administration, the situation changed abruptly.
In force since 1997, the Convention now has 145 parties, including US, Russia and China. It lacks only Israel, several of its middle-eastern neighbours and a few other mostly small countries.
The Convention establishes its own organization for monitoring compliance: the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). The Director General of the OPCW is a Brazilian diplomat, José Bustani, reappointed in 2000 unanimously by the 145 States Parties for a four-year term expiring 2005. At the OPCW headquarters in The Hague, Mr. Bustani supervises a “Technical Secretariat” comprising some 500 inspectors and technical personnel.
Up to May 2000, the US was giving Bustani its full support. (It was in May 2000 that his appointment was extended by acclamation for a second term.) Shortly after this date, with the coming of the Bush administration, the situation changed abruptly.