PC-IX/A/1

Preparatory Commission for the	PC-IX/A/1
Organisation for the Prohibition	21 November 1994
of Chemical Weapons	Original: ENGLISH

Ninth Session

(5 - 9 December 1994)

NOTE BY THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON THE PRACTICES OF MEMBER STATES IN THE AREA OF VISA REQUIREMENTS AND ON THE TYPES OF DOCUMENTS TO BE USED BY OPCW INSPECTORS

1. During its Eighth Session, the Commission approved the Report on the Consultations on Travel Documents and Visas for OPCW Official Travels (PC-VIII/A/WP.8). The Report contains, inter alia, the request " . . . that the Secretariat should conduct a survey of Member States' practices in this area with a view to seeking relevant information, in particular in relation to their visa requirements and the types of documents which they would require inspectors to carry".

2. The Secretariat would appreciate receiving relevant information from Member States on their practices in the area of visa requirements and on the types of travel documents required for OPCW inspectors and inspection assistants in order to prepare a compilation of these practices which will be used as a basis for the requested survey. In order to facilitate presentation of this information by Member States, the Secretariat has prepared a questionnaire which is attached to this Note.

3. Member States of the Commission are requested to return this questionnaire to the External Relation Division, preferably before 6 December 1994, in order to facilitate the preparation of the background paper for consultations to be held on 13 December 1994.

QUESTIONNAIRE ON THE PRACTICES OF MEMBER STATES REGARDING VISA REQUIREMENTS AND TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

I. Visas for OPCW inspectors and inspection assistants (this section to be completed by all Member States)

1. How does your country intend to implement the provision of the Convention in paragraph 10 of Part II B to the Verification Annex with regard to the issuance of multiple entry/exit and/or transit visas for OPCW inspectors and inspection assistants within 30 days after acknowledging the receipt of lists of inspectors?

2. What visa requirements does your country envisage for OPCW inspectors and inspection assistants? Would you be in a position to provide the Preparatory Commission, before EIF, with lists of countries whose nationals require visas to enter your country?

3. What period of lead time is necessary under the regulations presently in force in your country for issuing multiple visas with a validity of two years for official trips?

4. Will your country be in a position to prepare any special instruction for your Embassy or Consulate in the Netherlands, with a view to facilitating the processing of visas for OPCW inspectors and inspection assistants?

5. Would any of the following be acceptable to your country as travel documents for OPCW inspectors and inspection assistants:

(a) national passport;

(b) UN laissez-passer;

(d) a combination of the above?

6. On the assumption that the large number of visas required by OPCW inspectors and inspection assistants would make the conventional method of issuing/stamping visas impractical, would a separate booklet for visas, attached to any of the travel documents mentioned above, be an acceptable alternative?

7. What measures should be undertaken by the OPCW to satisfy the requirements of the immigration and customs authorities of your country with regard to OPCW inspectors and inspection assistants?

8. What specific measures could be undertaken to expedite the process of visa-issuance referred to above?

II. Visas for inspector trainees (this section to be completed only by those Member States offering training courses for future inspectors and inspection assistants)

9. What facilities are you prepared to provide in your Embassy or Consulate in the Netherlands to grant visas to the trainees who come first to The Hague for a short period of time, and then depart to your country for training?

10. What are the requirements for facilitating entry to your country for the trainees who must travel first to The Hague for a short stay before travelling on to your country for training?

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