The Hague, 31 October 1997

Regional Seminar on National Implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention

The Technical Secretariat of the OPCW organised a Regional Seminar on National Implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention from 23-24 October 1997 in Libreville, Gabon. The seminar was preceded by a one-day Training Course for Personnel of National Authority for Gabonese officials, which was attended by 40 individuals from 10 different Ministries of the Gabon government.

Government representatives of Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gambia were represented at the seminar. The seminar was also attended by Gabonese officials who would be tasked with the implementation of the Convention and participants included officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Ministry of National Defence, Public Security and Immigration, Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Finance, the Economy, Budget and Participation, Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, Ministry of Mining, Energy and Oil, Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of the Interior and Mobile Security. In addition, the French Embassy in Libreville and the Harvard Sussex Program were also represented at the seminar.

The High Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Gabon, Mr Bissiela Boukila opened the Seminar on bahalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Mr Casimir Oye Mba and delivered the closing statement in which he expressed the intention of his country to ratify the Convention in the near future. An official of the Technical Secretariat delivered a message from the Director-General of the OPCW, Mr José M. Bustani, stressing the need for all African states to not only become States Parties to the Convention, but also to actively participate in the work of the OPCW.

In addition to being updated about the current status of the implementation of the Convention, participants heard a range of presentations on the Convention and its implementation including how the Convention promotes peaceful uses of chemistry, what preparations are required for ratification with a particular focus on the requirement to designate or establish a National Authority, legislation required for implementation, the issues arising in the training of National Authority personnel, how to prepare for declarations and identify declarable facilities, issues relating to international cooperation and assistance and the need to maintain confidentiality. Following the presentations, participants engaged in a lively discussion on a range of issues of concern to their particular countries including how to exercise controls on chemical industry, the issue of multi-national corporations, sanctions in cases of violations, and the powers of the national authority. Assistance in the drafting of national implementing legislation and the desirability of regional co-operation in this regard were highlighted.

The regional seminar and the one-day training course which preceded it are part of the on-going efforts on the part of the Technical Secretariat to promote universal adherence to the Chemical Weapons Convention and to ensure its effective implementation at the national level.