| Preparatory Commission for the |
PC-X/A/3 |
| Organisation for the Prohibition |
6 April 1995 |
| of Chemical Weapons |
Original: ENGLISH |
Tenth Session
(3 - 7 April 1995)
WORKING GROUP A
REPORT
1. Introduction
1.1 Working Group A, with Ambassador Carlos Enrique Nones Sucre of Venezuela as Chairman, held three meetings from 3 - 6 April 1995.
1.2 Working Group A adopted its agenda as contained in PC-X/A/2.
2. The meeting of Working Group A on 27 February 1995
Working Group A received and noted the Summary of the Meeting of Working Group A on 27 February 1995 (PC-X/A/WP.7) prepared by the Secretariat.
3. Data Systems
3.1 Working Group A received the Tenth and Eleventh Reports of the Expert Group on Data Systems (PC-X/A/WP.1 and Corr. 1, and PC-X/A/WP.6). The Reports were presented by Mr. Olivier Caron of France, the Chairman of the Expert Group.
3.2 Working Group A, in accordance with:
(a) subparagraph 4.1(a) of PC-X/A/WP.1, endorsed the conclusions contained in subparagraph 2.6 of the same Report with regard to IMS security;
(b) subparagraph 6.7 of PC-IX/11, read together with subparagraph 4.1(c) of PC-X/A/WP.1, lifted all the reservations remaining in relation to the 1995 IS Branch budget including Part I and Part II, and approved the budgetary qualifications specified in subparagraph 3.2 and subparagraphs 3.4(b) through (e) of the same Report;
(c) subparagraph 4.1(d) of PC-X/A/WP.1, endorsed the consultation procedure specified in subparagraph 3.4(d) of the same Report, and requested the Chairman of the Expert Group on Data Systems to proceed with such consultations when the need arose, and to report to Working Group A on the outcome of those consultations. The Working Group noted that this procedure is required by the very specific nature of the issues concerned and does not set a precedent for the future;
(d) subparagraph 7.1 of PC-X/A/WP.6:
(i) communicated Attachment 1 to PC-X/A/WP.6 entitled "Transfer of Appropriations within the 1995 IS Branch Budget" to the Executive Secretary, for guidance in implementing the IS Branch budget;
(ii) endorsed the approach contained in subparagraph 4.3 of PC-X/A/WP.6 concerning the procedure for organising meetings of the Task Force on Data Systems convened during intersessional periods to address specific problems which arise at critical junctures in the development of the IMS architecture; and
(iii) adopted the draft mandate for the security study as contained in Attachment 2 to PC-X/A/WP.6.
3.3 Working Group A, in accordance with subparagraph 4.1(b) of PC-X/A/WP.1, proposed that the Commission accept the US offer as a component for the trusted part of the IMS for the OPCW, as specified in subparagraph 2.6(h) of the same Report.
3.4 Working Group A, in accordance with subparagraph 7.2 of PC-X/A/WP.6, approved the proposed reallocation of funds within the IS Branch budget for 1995 as contained in Attachment 1 to PC-X/A/WP.6 and forwarded it to the Commission for approval.
3.5 In the light of the Commission's overall assumptions with regard to EIF, Working Group A expressed concern that achievement of a fully functional information management system would not be possible until April 1996. The Working Group requested that all possible measures be taken to prevent further delays. The Group noted the conclusion contained in subparagraph 3.3 of PC-X/A/WP.6 concerning the need to identify a possible intermediate state of readiness of the IMS in the event of EIF occurring earlier than April 1996, and drew this to the attention of Working Group B and the Commission at its Tenth Session. In this context, Working Group A expressed concern about the vacant positions in the IS Branch, in particular the absence of an IS Branch Head, and asked the Executive Secretary to seek and nominate, as a matter of urgency, candidates displaying professional qualification, independence and integrity, while paying due regard to the criteria for personnel policy as set out by the Commission.
4. Administrative, Financial and Personnel Matters
Working Group A received and noted the Report on the Second Meeting of the Expert Group on Administrative, Financial and Personnel Matters (PC-X/A/WP.3). The Report was presented by Mr. S. Chakravarti of India, the Chairman of the Expert Group.
5. Programme of Work and Budget and Finance Group
5.1 Working Group A received the Tenth Report of the Expert Group on Programme of Work and Budget (PC-X/A/WP.4) The Report was presented by Mr. Arturo Hernández Basave of Mexico on behalf of Ambassador Jorge Morales Pedraza of Cuba, the Chairman of the Expert Group.
5.2 Working Group A, in accordance with subparagraph 7.1 of PC-X/A/WP.4, referred the following recommendations to the Commission for consideration and approval at its Tenth Session:
(a) that the Executive Secretary be authorised to adopt the following allowances:
- Dfl. 3,096 for staff receiving a child dependency allowance prior to 1 April 1994; and Dfl. 3,072 per annum per child for staff receiving this allowance after 1 April 1994; and
- Dfl. 2,136 per annum as a dependant spouse allowance, to be implemented with retroactive effect from 1 April 1994;
(b) that the provisions of Financial Rule 4.1.01 be suspended, on an exceptional basis only, for the obligation of Dfl. 700,000 relating to the fitting-up costs for the Laboratory and Equipment Store on the understanding that this shall not set any precedent for the future;
(c) that the Executive Secretary be requested to consider and implement the Finance Group's recommendations as contained in subparagraphs 7.2, 7.3, 7.6 and 7.7 of PC-X/A/WP.2 on the Executive Secretary's report on the findings of his examination of the External Auditor's observations on his audit of the 1993 financial statements of the Commission;
(d) that the Executive Secretary be invited to note the Finance Group's suggested amendments to the Provident Fund Charter as contained in subparagraph 9.1 of PC-X/A/WP.2;
(e) that the "Recommended Programme of Activities of the Finance Group and the Expert Group on Programme of Work and Budget in 1995" as set out in Annex 1 of PC-X/A/WP.4 be noted; and
(f) that the "Basic Parameters for the Budget of the Commission for 1996" as outlined in Annex 2 of PC-X/A/WP.4 be endorsed.
5.3 Working Group A, in accordance with subparagraph 7.2 of PC-X/A/WP.4, requested:
(a) the Finance Group to reconsider, at an appropriate stage, the recommendations contained in subparagraphs 10.14(d) and (e) of PC-X/A/WP.2, and to concentrate its efforts during its next meeting on the issues contained in subparagraphs 10.14(a), (c) and (f) of the same Report;
(b) the Finance Group to again consider the recommendations contained in subparagraphs 11.1(c) and 11.1(d) of PC-X/A/WP.2 in conjunction with its comments regarding the transfer of funds in the OPCW Budget as contained in paragraph 4 of PC-IX/A/WP.1;
(c) the Finance Group to consider further the recommendations contained in subparagraph 11.2(a) of PC-X/A/WP.2 and to forward its additional comments to the Expert Group on Programme of Work and Budget at its next meeting; and
(d) Working Group B to task the Expert Group on Training to return at its next scheduled meeting to the issue related to the revised training cost estimate taking into account the comments made by the Expert Group on Programme of Work and Budget as reflected in paragraph 6 of PC-X/A/WP.4 and to make its findings available to the Expert Group on Programme of Work and Budget.
5.4 Working Group A noted that the Chairman of Working Group A, at the request of the Finance Group, had transmitted to the Chairman of the Expert Group on Administrative, Financial and Personnel Matters the comments of the Finance Group on the draft Financial Regulations of the OPCW as recorded in paragraph 4 and subparagraphs 11.1(a) to 11.1(p) of the Report of the Finance Group (PC-X/A/WP.2).
6. OPCW Media and Public Affairs Policy
6.1 Working Group A received the Final Report on the Formal Consultations on OPCW Media and Public Affairs Policy (PC-X/A/WP.5). The Report was presented by Dr. Radoslav Deyanov of Bulgaria, the Chairman of the formal consultations.
6.2 Working Group A amended paragraph 4.3.2 of the Draft OPCW Media and Public Affairs Policy by replacing subparagraphs (a) and (b) with the following single paragraph: "The requesting State Party shall be fully responsible for and shall take all necessary measures to ensure that the Observer complies with all relevant provisions of the Media Policy. For his/her part, the Observer therefore is to adhere to and be bound by the same provisions of the Media Policy that apply to members of the inspection team and is not to take any independent action in this regard."
6.3 Working Group A considered the issue of possible contacts of the inspection team leader with the news media. The Group reached the understanding that such contacts are without prejudice to the provision of paragraph 2(c)(ii) of the Confidentiality Annex and are subject to prior authorisation by the Director-General, with due regard to paragraph 4.2 (b) of the Draft Media Policy.
6.4 Working Group A, in accordance with subparagraph 3(a) of PC-X/A/WP.5, endorsed the amended Draft OPCW Media and Public Affairs Policy, including the "Indicative List of Areas where Information may be Routinely Provided by the OPCW to the News Media and the General Public" (the Attachment and the Annex to PC-X/A/WP.5 respectively), and referred them to the Commission for consideration and provisional approval, pending the adoption of other relevant documents, including the Draft OPCW Policy on Confidentiality.
6.5 Working Group A further recommended that the Commission decide to implement the relevant provisions of the amended Draft OPCW Media and Public Affairs Policy mutatis mutandis for the Commission.
6.6 Working Group A, in accordance with subparagraph 3(b) of PC-X/A/WP.5, noted the necessity for the Secretariat to fully take into account copyright requirements, when applicable, in making available information related to the Annex to the agreed Draft OPCW Media and Public Affairs Policy attached to the same Report.
7. Proposed plan of activities for meetings under Working Group A for the period April - July 1995
Working Group A amended and approved the plan of activities and the listing of documents for meetings under the purview of Working Group A as contained in the "Draft Plan of Activities of the Expert Groups and Task Forces under Working Groups A and B and of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country as well as the Draft Schedule of Meetings for the Period April 1995 - July 1995" (PC-X/CRP. 2), and referred the amended plan of activities and listing of documents to the Commission for approval.
8. Any other business
Recommendations from Working Group B
8.1 Working Group A noted that Working Group B, in accordance with subparagraph 3(d) of PC-X/B/WP.1, wanted it to be cognisant of the financial implications of the use of inspection equipment.
8.2 Working Group A noted and approved Working Group B's recommendation to the Chairman of Working Group A, in accordance with subparagraph 3.2(d) of PC-X/B/WP.12, that the Expert Group on Training be authorised to seek comments and advice directly from the Expert Group on Programme of Work and Budget on all issues affecting the training budget.
8.3 Working Group A approved Working Group B's request, in accordance with subparagraph 5(g) of PC-X/B/WP.13, that the Expert Group on Data Systems be invited to consider whether the use by the OPCW of a single information storage and retrieval system for databases would be feasible and cost-effective.
9. Conclusion of meeting
The Report of Working Group A was adopted, and the meeting concluded at 11:50 on 6 April 1995.
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