S/288/2002

	OPCW	_Secretariat
		International Cooperation and Assistance Division
		S/288/2002
		11 January 2002
		ENGLISH only
		(Unofficial electronic version)

NOTE BY THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL

SWISS EMERGENCY FIELD LABORATORY TRAINING PROGRAMME

(SEF-LAB VI), SPIEZ, SWITZERLAND

7 - 12 April 2002

1. On behalf of the Government of Switzerland and the OPCW, the Director-General wishes to invite Member States to nominate participants for an emergency field laboratory training course which will be held at the NBC Training Centre in Spiez, Switzerland, from 7 – 12 April 2002.

2. The course, which is the sixth of its kind, is related to the offer made by Switzerland under Article X of the Chemical Weapons Convention in relation to assistance and protection against chemical weapons (CW), and will be jointly organised by the Government of Switzerland and the Secretariat. The course will provide training in civil CW detection and decontamination for up to 16 chief instructors from Member States.

3. The course will provide basic training for specialists and experts who are, or will be, associated with CW detection training in their home countries. Its main purpose is to assist Member States in their efforts to establish a basic CW detection capability that will directly benefit the civilian population. During the course the participants will receive training in the use of the detection equipment included in the Swiss pledge of assistance under Article X. The course draws on the extensive experience of the laboratory specialists of the Swiss armed forces in the field of technical and personnel support to the civilian authorities. These specialists are equipped with CW detection equipment that can be used in the event of a CW emergency, providing a simple but reliable means of qualitative and semi-quantitative analysis of chemical agents in air, soil, water and food. This equipment could provide vital information under difficult circumstances without a power supply.

4. Due to the objective of the course and its technical nature, the candidates will be carefully selected by the Secretariat. Applicants from Member States which do not yet have civilian CW detection and analysis capabilities will be particularly welcome. Participants should have a basic technical (laboratory) and chemical background, as well as a reasonable command of spoken and written English. They should also be physically fit and able to wear an individual protective mask for several hours during almost all the practical sessions in the laboratory. All necessary measures will be taken to ensure the security of the participants during the laboratory sessions. Individual protective masks and laboratory overalls will be provided. Previous practical experience with military or civil CW protection would be desirable.

5. It is anticipated that participants will arrive on Saturday 6 April, and will depart on Saturday 13 April 2002. Participants are requested to obtain any necessary visas (including transit visas) before travelling to Switzerland. The Secretariat expects to be able to sponsor a limited number of candidates nominated by Member States, to cover their travel costs. When proposing candidates for the course, Member States should specify whether such sponsorship is a precondition for their participation. The course materials, as well as accommodation and all meals during the course, will be provided by the Swiss Government free of charge. Further details regarding accommodation, the course venue and transportation will be issued to participants at a later date.

6. Interested Member States are invited to complete the nomination form contained in annex 1 to this Note, giving the full name and address (including fax and telephone numbers, and e-mail address, if available) of each participant, together with his/her affiliation and area(s) of expertise. The completed nomination form, together with a brief biography of each nominee, should be submitted to the Assistance and Protection Branch, International Cooperation and Assistance Division (ICA), OPCW, as soon as possible, but not later than 28 February 2002, to allow sufficient time for the Secretariat and the Swiss authorities to make the necessary arrangements. In the meantime, Member States are requested to promptly inform the ICA of any administrative or other problems that may arise in relation to the attendance of any nominee.

7. A provisional schedule for the training course is contained in annex 2 to this Note. Further details of the arrangements will be issued as soon as the ICA receives confirmation from the participants that they will be attending the course. Any questions in this regard may be addressed to the Assistance and Protection Branch, ICA:

Tel.: +31-(0)70 416 3555, 416 3217

Fax: +31-(0)70 416 3209

E-mail: EmergAssistBr@opcw.org

Annexes:

Annex 1: Nomination form

Annex 2: Provisional schedule

Annex 1

Swiss Emergency Field Laboratory Training Programme (SEF-LAB VI)

Spiez, Switzerland, 7 - 14 April 2002

NOMINATION FORM

To be completed by Member States to nominate participants.

Please use BLOCK LETTERS.

Annex 2

SWISS EMERGENCY FIELD LABORATORY TRAINING PROGRAMME (SEF-LAB VI)

TENTATIVE PROGRAMME SCHEDULE (edition: 08.01.02)

Arrival: Saturday 6 April 2002. Departure Saturday 13. April 2002. Training location: CA, course auditorium; Lab, Laboratory sequences. Practical sequences in the laboratory
(Lab 1-7) will be preceded from short theoretical introductions in CA (~ 30 min). Coffee breaks (30 min) in the morning and in the afternoon.

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