The Hague, 28 June 2004

OPCW Analytical Skills Development Course Commences

On 25 June 2004, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) inaugurated its Analytical Skills Development course. The two-week Course is designed to enhance the skills and experience of qualified analytical chemists from Member States, whose economies are either in development or transition. The knowledge gained in this Course will serve to strengthen the national implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) by facilitating the analysis of chemicals related to the CWC, the adoption of best laboratory procedures and to broaden the pool of skilled practitioners from which the National Authorities and the Secretariat can draw in the future.

The course accommodates 20 participants from Botswana, China, Colombia, Ecuador, Gambia, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Mauritius, Pakistan, Philippines, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Slovak Republic and South Africa.

In his opening address to the Course participants, OPCW Director General, Mr Rogelio Pfirter, stressed that “the full and effective implementation of the global chemical weapons ban is an on-going, daily exercise, requiring considerable analytical skills and professional diligence. The OPCW stands ready to provide the means to strengthen existing national capacity to ensure the achievement of our mandate: to eliminate chemical weapons, to prevent their proliferation, to protect and assist each other in case of attack or threat, and to promote the peaceful uses of chemistry. Together, the political will of the Member States and the concrete measures to develop and strengthen national implementation, such as this Course, will contribute to our ultimate success.”

On behalf of the Organisation, Director General Pfirter thanked the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands for the generous support it has provided for the Analytical Skills Development Course, including a voluntary contribution of Euro 115,000 to defray the costs of this course. The Technical University Delft, in collaboration with the TNO Prins Maurits Laboratory, a laboratory designated by the OPCW, and other specialised institutes are providing training personnel and expertise to ensure the highest level of training standards.