On March 6, 2002 the US distributed a nine-page list of complaints against Mr. Bustani’s “mismanagement”. Among other things, the document accuses Mr. Bustani of “polarizing” the Executive Council, the OPCW’s policy-making body consisting of 41 States Parties with responsibility for supervising Mr. Bustani and the Secretariat. He is said to have allied himself with specific political views within the Council – views held by only a minority of members, rather than moving the Council toward consensus. Also, the US list of complaints blames him for low morale among the staff of the Technical Secretariat. Furthermore, the US registered strong objections to the Director General’s stance on Iraq and chemical terrorism as well as his selection of targets for inspection.
The US campaign to unseat Mr. Bustani came to a head on 22 March. On that date, the Executive Council voted on a motion proposed by the US expressing no confidence in Mr. Bustani and calling upon him to resign. The motion failed – having been supported by only 17 States Parties – far short of the two-thirds majority required for decisions by the Executive Council.
Nothing daunted, the US then called for a full meeting of the 145 - member Conference of the States Parties, the body that originally elected Mr. Bustani. That meeting is currently scheduled to start on Sunday 21 April; the US will ask it to terminate Mr. Bustani’s contract as Director General.
The US campaign to unseat Mr. Bustani came to a head on 22 March. On that date, the Executive Council voted on a motion proposed by the US expressing no confidence in Mr. Bustani and calling upon him to resign. The motion failed – having been supported by only 17 States Parties – far short of the two-thirds majority required for decisions by the Executive Council.
Nothing daunted, the US then called for a full meeting of the 145 - member Conference of the States Parties, the body that originally elected Mr. Bustani. That meeting is currently scheduled to start on Sunday 21 April; the US will ask it to terminate Mr. Bustani’s contract as Director General.