The Hague, 5 September 2002

The National Authority Basic Course concluded on 3 September 2002. It is part of the implementation support programme to provide Member States with the capacity to implement the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). By training personnel involved in the work of National Authorities implementing the CWC, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) will enhance the reliability of the compliance mechanism.

The course provides continuity in the process of the implementation of the CWC. The participants chosen represent National Authorities from all the regional groupings: African, Asian, Eastern Europe, Latin American and Caribbean, and Western Europe and Others Group.

The curriculum of the Basic Course includes; an introduction to the Convention to those participants having little or no prior experience with matters of implementation, presentations, group work with emphasis on issues relating to implementation and scenario discussions.

The Director General of the Technical Secretariat of the OPCW, Mr Rogelio Pfirter asserted in his closing remarks to the participants of the Basic Course, “I see support to national ability to comply with the Chemical Weapons Convention as one of my immediate tasks. Needless to say, the credibility of the CWC regime and the attainment of its object and purpose cannot be truly claimed unless and until all States Parties are in a position to properly comply with their treaty obligations.”

Mr Pfirter also explained the need for continuing efforts to provide training to the personnel of the National Authorities since, “The Convention is not a self-executing document. Its implementation by States Parties requires the adoption of legislative and administrative measures, necessary to enable governments to enforce their international obligations at the national level. The enactment of implementing legislation empowering governments to collect the mandatory reporting data and to prosecute the violators of the Convention is of particular importance.”