The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has approved a US proposal to dismiss its director, General Jose Bustani. In a poll which needed a two-thirds majority, the US proposal to fire Bustani received 48 votes in favour and only seven against. There were 43 abstentions and two delegations at the meeting were absent during the vote.
After a 30 minute vote, a devastated Bustani stormed out of the conference hall, threw his hands in the air and said he had lost his job as director-general of the Organistion for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
But Bustani said the move lacked legal basis. "The convention does not allow for such a dismissal," he complained ahead of the vote.
The US delegation had promised a document explaining its allegations but when it did not come through on its promise, several delegations started booing during today's closed meeting, OPCW officials said.
The US official said Bustani's lapses "are not legal crimes, nonetheless they are sever mismanagement policies which significantly impede the effectiveness of the organisation."
Brazil's delegation, headed by Ambassador Luiz Augusto De Araujo, called the US move illegal and said it would harm efforts to rid the world of chemical weapons.
The group was established in 1997 to oversee the destruction of the world's chemical weapons stockpiles and production facilities.
The United States and Russia both supported Bustani's reappointment in May 2000, a year before his first term was due to expire.
The United States opened its campaign against Bustani two months ago and has threatened to cut funding if the Brazilian remains in power.
Without US funding the OPCW would spiral into a deeper financial crisis and could face closure.
Speaking to ireland.comlast week, the Labour Party spokesman, Mr Michael D Higgins, called on the Government to reject any moves against Mr Bustani which would damage the impartiality and credibity of the organisation.
"It is of absolute urgency that Ireland makes its view known in this regard and takes a strong position on the defence of the principal of objective multilateralism and unbiased application of that principal," he said.
The Green Party’s spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Mr John Gormley has also called on the Government to resist attempts by the US government to have Mr Jose Bustani removed.
"This move by the United States is unprecedented and is a very dangerous attack against the international community and UN regulatory bodies," Mr Gormley said.
"Mr Bustani’s only crime appears to be that he is very effective at doing his job. His inspectors have overseen the destruction of two million chemical weapons and two-thirds of the world’s chemical weapon facilities. He has approached his work with complete impartiality. This reputation leads many to believe he can be effective in defusing the Iraqi chemical weapons situation.
"However, it appears the US government does not want the Iraqi crisis resolved peacefully. Mr Bustani requires the full backing of the UN Security Council, not only to survive in his post, but to pursue a successful weapons inspection in Iraq.
Additional reporting AP