Preparatory Commission for the                                      PC-IX/A/WP.7

Organisation for the Prohibition                                      18 November 1994

of Chemical Weapon                                                         Original:  ENGLISH

(5 - 9 December 1994)

REPORT

ON CONSULTATIONS ON

OPCW MEDIA AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS POLICY

1.         In accordance with a decision adopted by the Eighth Session of the Preparatory Commission (PC-VIII/18, Annex 2), consultations on the OPCW Media and Public Affairs Policy were held for a second time in The Hague on 16 November 1994 with the tasks: 

(a)        of continuing consultations on the basis of the updated version of the draft Media and Public Affairs Policy documents; and

(b)        of considering modalities for the final adoption of these documents through an appropriate formal mechanism. 

2.         Dr. Radoslav Deyanov of Bulgaria continued as Chairman of the consultations.

3.         The provisional agenda was approved and the consultations proceeded to focus on:

(a)        an updated version of the draft OPCW Media and Public Affairs Policy, including a draft indicative list of general information which may be routinely provided by the OPCW to the media and the general public.  The updated version, including the draft indicative list, has been prepared by the Provisional Technical Secretariat, taking into account:

(i)         the exchange of views during the first round of consultations on 3 August 1994;

(ii)        the suggestions for changes made in follow-up contacts between the Chairman and interested delegations since the first round of consultations;

(iii)       some ideas put forward during the consideration of the inspection-related aspects of a preliminary version of the updated draft OPCW Media and Public Affairs Policy during the meeting of the Expert Group on Inspection Procedures on 20 - 25 October 1994;

(b)        a Chairman's paper dated 16 November 1994 analysing the unresolved issues and suggesting possible solutions to them.

4.         Based on agreement reached on some outstanding issues, the Secretariat was requested to update the draft OPCW Media and Public Affairs Policy document.  Consultations will continue in the future on the basis of this updated draft document.  Member States were encouraged to convey any further views in this regard to either the Chairman of the consultations or the Media and Public Affairs Branch of the External Relations Division.

5.         The Chairman was requested to report to Working Group A.

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