The Commission for the Settlement of Disputes Related to Confidentiality, a subsidiary of the Conference of State Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), recently named Alireza Jahangiri as its new chairperson during a recent meeting at the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) headquarters in The Hague.
Jahangiri is the permanent representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the OPCW. As the new chairperson, Jahangiri’s term will last for a period of two years.
In addition to Jahangiri’s appointment, OPCW Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü gave a speech to meeting attendees which stressed that within the technical secretariat, “a stringent regime governing the handling of confidential information is rigorously maintained.”
Additionally, the director-general gave his reassurance that all information provided by State Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention would be fully protected at all times. Should there be breaches of confidentiality, Üzümcü stated that procedures were in place to determine the cause and impacts of any potential leaks.
The organization also took the opportunity to review its procedures and conduct a mock case in order to maintain working relationships within the commission’s membership should they be called upon to settle a dispute.
OPCW serves as the implementing body of the Chemical Weapons Convention. Entered into force in 1997, the convention represents the most-successful disarmament treaty in history targeting an entire class of weapons. To date, approximately 95 percent of all chemical weapons stockpiles declares by OPCW’s 192 member states have been destroyed under the organization’s verification.