The Hague, 17 October 2003

National Implementation Of The Chemical Weapons Ban

The fifth Annual Meeting of National Authorities that are implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention at the national level will be held at the OPCW Headquarters in The Hague from 17 to 19 October 2003.

The Chemical Weapons Convention entered into force on 29 April 1997. The Convention's implementing agency, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, aims to achieve four principal objectives: the elimination of chemical weapons and the capacity to develop them, the verification of non-proliferation, international assistance and protection in the event of the use, or threat of use, of chemical weapons, and international cooperation in the peaceful use of chemistry.

Representatives of National Authorities of more than 70 States Parties are attending the three-day meeting, focusing on means to enhance the national implementation of the Convention, including: OPCW programmes that enhance the ability of National Authorities to monitor the transfer of dual use chemicals and regularly submit declarations of any relevant industrial activity to the Organisation. The Meeting will provide an opportunity to discuss the practical aspects of the chemical transfer-monitoring regime.

In the pursuit of peaceful chemistry, the Organisation facilitates international cooperation between Member States. The National Authority Meeting will provide practitioners with insights into the scope of these support programmes and the procedures for utilising these programmes. The support programmes are designed to enhance the national capacity to implement the Convention by supporting research projects and internships, including the Associate Programme, an intensive ten-week training program for chemists and engineers from Member States whose economies are developing or in transition.

The National Authorities Meeting will also discuss the progress made by Member States in the promotion of international cooperation, as well as the results of the regional meetings of National Authorities in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. In 2003, national courses were held in Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia, the Philippines, Malaysia and Moldova, which provided bilateral technical assistance to these States Parties, and will be followed by a further three national courses in this year.

In his opening address to the Meeting of National Authorities, OPCW Director-General, Mr Rogelio Pfirter, emphasized that it is crucial that the political will that supports the Convention be translated into effective national implementation. The National Authorities have an essential role to play in this regard.