S/238/2001

	OPCW	Secretariat
		International Cooperation and Assistance Division
		S/238/2001
		8 January 2001
		ENGLISH & SPANISH only
		(Unofficial electronic version)

INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SECOND REGIONAL MEETING

OF NATIONAL AUTHORITIES OF STATES PARTIES

IN THE LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN REGION

VIÑA DEL MAR, V REGION, CHILE

27 - 29 MARCH 2001

1. The National Authority of Chile and the OPCW Secretariat (hereinafter "the Secretariat") invite representatives of National Authorities to participate in the second regional meeting of National Authorities of States Parties in the Latin American and Caribbean region (GRULAC), to be held in Viña del Mar, V Region, Chile, from
27 to 29 March 2001.

2. The meeting is being convened in connection with the offer of the Chilean National Authority, made at the First Regional Meeting of National Authorities of States Parties in Latin America and the Caribbean in Lima, Peru, from 28 - 30 March 2000, to host the second meeting of representatives of National Authorities from the region.

The meeting is intended to provide a framework within which National Authority representatives can review and discuss issues relating to the following thematic clusters:

(a) the status of implementation of the Convention in the region: the identification of special regional requirements, and ways of addressing current issues and new challenges;

(b) verification-related issues: an exchange of experiences, and the availability of assistance in preparing declarations; and

(c) international cooperation projects in the region: the identification of regional priorities, and proposals for developing a common platform.

4. The provisional programme of the meeting is contained in annex 1 to this invitation.

Spanish - English interpretation services will be available throughout the meeting.

The Secretariat will be able to sponsor a limited number of participants, to cover the costs of international travel and accommodation in Viña del Mar. Sponsored participants will be informed separately of the terms and conditions for OPCW sponsorship.

Interested representatives of National Authorities are invited to complete the registration form contained in annex 2 to this invitation, and to return it to the Secretariat not later than 15 February 2001, together with an indication of whether sponsorship will be required. The forms should be addressed to the Director, International Cooperation and Assistance Division, OPCW, Johan de Wittlaan 32, 2517 JR The Hague, the Netherlands. The forms may also be submitted either by fax (+31-(0)70-306 3535) or by e-mail (webmaster@opcw.org).

Additional information about the meeting may be obtained from the International Cooperation and Assistance Division of the OPCW, at the address specified in the previous paragraph.

Annexes:

Annex 1: Provisional programme

Annex 2: Registration form

Annex 1

SECOND REGIONAL MEETING OF NATIONAL AUTHORITIES

OF STATES PARTIES IN THE LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN REGION

VIÑA DEL MAR, V REGION, CHILE

27 – 29 MARCH 2001

PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME

*Tuesday* *27 March*
09:30 – 10:00	Opening ceremony	Authorities of Chilean Government, Chilean National Authority, and OPCW Secretariat
10:00 – 10:15	Coffee break
10:15 – 10:45 10:45 – 11:15 11:15 – 12:00	From Lima to Viña del Mar Status of Implementation of the CWC Promoting universality in the region: Initiatives and practical steps	OPCW Secretariat/A National Authority OPCW Secretariat National Authorities - Group discussions
12:00 – 12:45	Towards national implementing legislation: Networking to facilitate the implementation of the Convention in the region	OPCW Secretariat / National Authorities/ Group discussions/exchange of experiences
12:45 – 14:30	Lunch
14:30 – 15:15	Strategies for the dissemination of the Convention	National Authorities / Group discussions/exchange of experiences
15:15 – 16:00	Developing partnerships with the chemical industry and other governmental organisations involved in the implementation of the Convention	National Authorities/Group discussions/exchange of experiences.
16:00 – 16:15	Coffee break
16:15 – 17:00	Declarations required by the CWC including DOC and PSF production facilities	OPCW Secretariat / National Authorities/ Group discussions
17:00 – 17:45	Improving the quality of declarations	OPCW Secretariat / National Authorities / Group discussions/exchange of experiences
17:45 – 18:00	Summing-up of deliberations	Chilean National Authority
19:30 – 21:30	Cocktails
*Wednesday 28 March*
9:30 – 10:15	Experiences of inspection conduct in the chemical industry: Developing partnerships with the chemical industry	OPCW Secretariat / National Authorities / Group discussions/exchange of experiences.
10:15 – 11:00	Inspection procedures and the role of inspectors: Exchanging experiences on the training of escorts for inspections	National Authorities / Group discussions/exchange of experiences
11:00 – 11:15	Coffee break
11:15 – 12:00	CWC requirements in relation to trade in scheduled chemicals	OPCW Secretariat and National Authorities / Group discussions/exchange of experiences
12:00 – 12:45	Experiences with the implementation of export regulations under the CWC	National Authorities / Group discussions / exchange of experiences
12:45 – 14:30	Lunch
14:30 – 15:15	Imports and exports: The role of customs in the process of the implementation of the Convention: Potential for regional cooperation.	National Authorities / Group discussions / exchange of experiences.
15:15 – 16:00	Strengthening the international cooperation and assistance activities of the OPCW	OPCW Secretariat / National Authorities
16:00 – 16:15	Coffee break
16:15 – 17:00	Status of implementation of Article X: A regional perspective	OPCW Secretariat / National Authorities
17:00 – 17:45	OPCW International Cooperation Programmes: National and regional research projects seeking OPCW sponsorship	National Authorities
17:45 – 18:00	Summing-up of deliberations	Chilean National Authority

*Thursday* *29 March*

9:30 – 10:15	The Third National Authority Day and GRULAC participation	OPCW Secretariat / National Authorities
10:15 – 11:00	The Sixth Session of the Conference of the States Parties and preparations for the First Review Conference	OPCW Secretariat / National Authorities
11:00 – 11:15	Coffee break
11-15 – 12:00	The Third Annual Meeting of GRULAC National Authorities	Chilean National Authority / National Authorities
12:00 – 12:30	Conclusions and recommendations of the meeting of GRULAC National Authorities	Chilean National Authority / National Authorities
12:30 – 13:00	Closing ceremony	Chilean National Authority

Annex 2

SECOND REGIONAL MEETING OF NATIONAL AUTHORITIES

OF STATES PARTIES IN THE LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN REGION

VIÑA DEL MAR, V REGION, CHILE

27 - 29 MARCH 2001

REGISTRATION FORM

Please return the completed form by 15 February 2001 to: International Cooperation and Assistance Division, OPCW, Johan de Wittlaan 32, 2517JR The Hague, the Netherlands.

Fax: +31-(0)70-306 3535; E-mail: webmaster@OPCW.org

Please use BLOCK LETTERS

1	Family name
2	First name
3	Date of birth
4	Nationality
5	Gender Circle as appropriate	Male/Female
6	Ministry/organisation (National Authority)
7	Passport	Nº ___________Place of issue: city __________ Country ____________ Date of issue ______________Date of expiry: _____________________
8	Contact address - home
9	Telephone no.
10	Fax no.
11	Contact address - work
12	Telephone no.
13	Fax no.
14	E-mail address
15	Academic/professional qualifications
16	Area(s) of expertise
17	Time spent working at the National Authority or implementing the CWC in your country
18	Dietary requirements, if any (please specify)
19	Is OPCW sponsorship a precondition for participation? Circle as appropriate	Yes No

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