Preparatory Commission for the	PC-IX/A/WP.3
Organisation for the Prohibition	9 November 1994
of Chemical Weapons	Original: ENGLISH

Ninth Session

(5 - 9 December 1994)

EXPERT GROUP ON DATA SYSTEMS

NINTH REPORT

1.         Introduction

1.1       In accordance with the Plan of Activities and Schedule of Meetings annexed to the Report of the Eighth Session of the Commission (PC-VIII/18, Annex 2), the Expert Group on Data Systems met on 31 October, 1 and 9 November 1994 in The Hague to consider the national offers, the IMS security level and the Information Systems Branch budget for 1995.

1.2       Mr. Olivier Caron of France continued as Chairman of the Group.

1.3       The Group's work was facilitated by the Task Force report submitted to it, as well as by material provided by the delegations of Germany and the Russian Federation.

2.         National offers

2.1       The Group considered the recommendations contained in the Task Force report in relation to the US offer, but was not in a position to agree on a recommendation.

2.2       The Group took note of the Slovak Republic's submission of a national offer for the IMS.  The Group requested the Secretariat to conduct an evaluation of this offer in accordance with the procedure set forth in PC-V/A/4, once the software has been made available to the Secretariat for testing, and to submit an evaluation report through the Task Force on Data Systems to this Group, which will thereafter consider a proposal.

3.         IMS security issues

            The Expert Group recognised that a fundamental difference exists among delegations regarding the level of security that will be required for the IMS.  Some delegations held the view that C2 would suffice.  The view was also expressed that B1 would be required.  The Expert Group continued to be unable to resolve this difference.

4.         Information Systems Branch 1995 budget

4.1       The Group reviewed the Information Systems Branch budget for Part I of the 1995 Budget in order to identify those elements for which existing reservations in relation to the disbursement of funds can be lifted.  The Group recommended the unfreezing of the following appropriations: all IS Branch personnel appropriations, including those related to IS Branch personnel already in place and those related to new posts as established under subparagraph 7.6.3 of the Annex to PC-VIII/A/WP.7.  The Expert Group was unable to agree on the lifting of reservations against any other item in the IS Branch budget for 1995 and drew the attention of Working Group A to the possible implications of this situation.

4.2       Given that the decision on the security level must in any case be taken before the beginning of Phase II, the Expert Group did not consider it necessary to address during this meeting the Information Systems Branch budget for Part II of 1995. Consequently, the reservations against the Information Systems Branch Part II 1995 budget remain, and apply, amongst other things, to the allocation of PCs and workstations.

5.         Recommendations

5.1       The Expert Group requested Working Group A to take note of paragraphs 2 and 3 and subparagraph 4.1 of this Report.

5.2       The Expert Group requested the Secretariat to:

(a)        conduct an evaluation of the Slovak Republic's offer for the IMS in accordance with the procedure set forth in PC-V/A/4; and to

(b)        communicate the content of subparagraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of this Report to the Expert Group on Programme of Work and Budget for its consideration.

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