Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons

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MEDIA ADVISORY

WORKSHOP AND EXHIBITION ON
NATIONAL RESPONSE SYSTEMS
TO PROTECT AGAINST CHEMICAL EMERGENCIES

THE HAGUE, THE NETHERLANDS
19 – 20 NOVEMBER 2003

The Technical Secretariat of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) wishes to announce that the annual workshop on protection against chemical weapons will be held at the OPCW headquarters on 19 and 20 November 2003. The theme of the workshop this year will be "National Response Systems to Protect against Chemical Emergencies".

In response to the provisions set out in Article X of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), the OPCW annually organises a workshop on protection related issues at its headquarters in The Hague. The workshop on 19 and 20 November will be held with a concurrent exhibition of protection related equipment.

The workshop will cover issues on building and strengthening national response systems for protection against chemical emergencies in Member States who, by their adherence to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), have rejected the use of chemical weapons.

The concurrent exhibition of protection related equipment, by companies and research institutions, will display state-of-the-art technologies for civilian protection against chemical weapons. Further information on this workshop may be found by clicking on the document: S/370/2003

A press conference will be held on 20 November from 15.30 to 16.00h at the Press Room in the OPCW headquarters.

Participation at the workshop is open to individuals who are citizens of, and / or organisations which are registered in, Member States of the OPCW.

For further information, please contact

Assistance and Protection Branch (OPCW)
emergassistbr@opcw.org; fax: + 31 (0) 70 416 3209

or

Media and Public Affairs Branch (OPCW)
media@opcw.org; fax + 31 (0) 70 416-3044

Media Representatives wishing to attend this workshop and exhibition are kindly requested to complete the attached Accreditation Form and return it by 17 November 2003 to:

WORKSHOP AND EXHIBITION ON
NATIONAL RESPONSE SYSTEMS
TO PROTECT AGAINST CHEMICAL EMERGENCIES

THE HAGUE, THE NETHERLANDS
19 – 20 NOVEMBER 2003

MEDIA ACCREDITATION FORM

Copies of your press and identity cards must accompany your application.

I. Please print in CAPITAL letters

Family Name:	First name:
Date of Birth:	Place of birth:
Nationality:
Passport/ID No:	Date of issue:
Issued by:	Expiry date:
Press card No:	Expiry date:
Category:	News Agency ___ Cameraman ___ Newspaper ___ Photographer ___ Magazine ___ TV Technician ___ TV Journalist ___ Radio Technician ___ Radio Journalist ___ Other: (please specify)
Media Organisation:
Address:	Postal code:
Country:	City:
Telephone:	Fax: E-mail:
Home country of Media Organisation:

II. Date and signature of applicant

I agree to the above-mentioned data being stored and used in connection with my accreditation.

Date: ______________________ Signature of Applicant: __________________

TO BE RETURNED BY 17 NOVEMBER 2003 TO:

Mr Peter Kaiser, Head, Media and Public Affairs Branch, External Relations

By post:
OPCW
Johan de Wittlaan 32
2517 JR The Hague, The Netherlands

Or by fax:
+31 70 416 3044

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