The Hague, 16 October 1997

Workshop on National Implementation and Legislation of the Chemical Weapons Convention

The Technical Secretariat of the OPCW organised a Workshop on National Implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention from 14-15 October 1996. The workshop, held at the European Parliament in Brussels, was attended by representatives of 40 states, including not only States Parties to the Convention, but also signatory and non-signatory states. Some participants had travelled from their respective capitals, where they are responsible for the day to day implementation of the Convention. Officials from the European Council, the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Organization for African Unity also attended the workshop as well as officials from the Harvard Sussex Program and the International Security Information Service.

The workshop opened with a briefing by the Technical Secretariat on the activities of the OPCW, particularly as regards verification activities and efforts being made to promote the universality of the Convention. Participants then heard presentations on the Convention and the OPCW generally and on the advantages for states in ratifying the Convention. In the discussion which followed, the importance of ratification by the Russian Federation was stressed as was the need to implement Articles X and XI of the Convention. Reflecting the practical focus of the workshop, a number of participants sought clarification and guidance on overcoming obstacles which they had encountered while working towards ratification and/or implementation. During the second day of the workshop, participants heard presentations on the legislative requirements for national implementation and on the verification system as it affects the industrial sector of States Parties. In the discussion which followed, the Secretariat responded to many detailed questions from participants, particularly in relation to the in-country procedures for complying with the verification requirements of the Convention.

Participants expressed the view that such workshops are very helpful, not only in implementing the Convention, but also for those states still in the process of ratification. A key factor in the success of the workshop was the fact that it was attended by officials who have the day-to-day responsibility for implementing the Convention and who are consequently personally aware of the progress in their states and the difficulties being encountered. The Secretariat was requested to arrange follow-up activities. For its part, the Secretariat offered to provide all possible assistance within available resources, and urged those states which had not yet ratified the Convention to do so with all possible speed.