OPCW	Secretariat
International Cooperation and Assistance Division
S/297/2002
11 February 2002
ENGLISH and SPANISH only
(Unofficial electronic version)

INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE

INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON CIVIL DEFENCE IN PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE AGAINST CHEMICAL WEAPONS, AND THE

THIRD REGIONAL MEETING OF NATIONAL AUTHORITIES IN

LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

BRASILIA, BRAZIL

25 – 27 MARCH 2002

1.         The Ministry of National Integration, with the participation of the National Authority of Brazil, and the co-sponsorship of the Secretariat of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (hereinafter the “Secretariat”), jointly invites representatives of Member States of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to participate in the International Seminar on Civil Defence in Protection and Assistance Against Chemical Weapons. This is being organised in conjunction with the Third Regional Meeting of National Authorities in Latin America and the Caribbean, so that other implementation issues related to the Chemical Weapons Convention (hereinafter the “Convention”) can also be addressed.

2.         The International Seminar on Civil Defence in Protection and Assistance Against Chemical Weapons will take place from 25 - 27 March 2002 (the programme is contained in annex 1).  On 25 and 26 March, the assistance and protection experts and the representatives of National Authorities will participate in joint sessions. On 27 March 2002, the representatives of National Authorities, in the broader framework of the Third Regional Meeting of National Authorities in Latin American and the Caribbean, will continue their discussions on issues relating to the implementation of the Convention (the programme for 27 March for National Authorities is contained in annex 2).  Experts in the field of civil protection attending the international seminar on assistance and protection will continue their own discussions on that same day. 

3.         The International Seminar on Civil Defence in Protection and Assistance Against Chemical Weapons is a timely initiative that will benefit the implementation of Article X of the Convention (which contains its assistance and protection provisions), thus facilitating its process of implementation in the Latin American and Caribbean countries.   

4.                  During their meeting last March in Viña del Mar, Chile, the representatives of Latin American National Authorities expressed a special interest in establishing an assistance and protection network in the region. This international seminar is a response to that interest, but also reflects the Secretariat’s wish for future meetings of National Authorities to focus on specialised discussions of matters which are of practical interest and value.

5.                  The process of consultations in Latin America and the Caribbean has been stimulated by the meetings of regional National Authorities held in Lima, Peru, in 2000, and in Viña del Mar, Chile, in 2001, and has provided an important impetus to ensuring effective compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention. The Third Regional Meeting of National Authorities is being convened to further encourage this process.  

6.         The Secretariat will be able to sponsor the participation of a limited number of representatives of Member States in each of the above-mentioned events. Nominations should be sent using only the application form appropriate for each event, and should specify whether sponsorship is a precondition for the participation of the proposed candidates. For sponsored participants, the Secretariat will cover the costs of travel, accommodation, and medical insurance, and will also provide a limited subsistence allowance to cover other related costs, such as meals. Participants who neither need nor intend to use the accommodation provided by the Secretariat are requested to inform the Secretariat about this as early as possible, so that cancellation fees can be avoided. The daily subsistence allowance will remain unchanged for those participants who opt to make their own accommodation arrangements. When making travel arrangements for sponsored participants, the Secretariat will seek to use the most economic options available. Tickets will be purchased by the Secretariat, and will be sent to participants. Participants will be allowed to purchase tickets locally only when this leads to further savings to the Secretariat, and only when it has authorised this in advance. Any costs due to changes or cancellations made by participants after the tickets have been purchased shall be borne by the participants. Non-sponsored participants are requested to make their own travel and accommodation arrangements, although, if necessary, the Secretariat can arrange accommodation at reduced rates.

7.         Depending on the requirements of confirmed participants and the availability of the relevant resources, English and Spanish simultaneous interpretation services may be provided throughout both the international seminar and the meeting of National Authorities.  All participants are expected to arrive early on 25 March 2002, and will depart on 28 March 2002, and are requested to obtain any necessary visas (including transit visas) before travelling to Brazil.

8.                  Member States and other States are invited to submit the names of those individuals they have selected for participation for both of these events to the Secretariat not later than Wednesday 6 March 2002.   The completed nomination forms should be sent to the International Cooperation and Assistance Division.  It is important that all the details requested on the forms be provided, and that the forms are fully filled in, so that the Secretariat can communicate directly with the proposed participants. Please be advised that an OPCW acceptance letter is a prerequisite for the registration of the participants sponsored by the Secretariat.

9.         Application procedure for participants attending the International Seminar on Civil Defence in Protection and Assistance Against Chemical Weapons, 25 ‑ 27 March 2002.  Individuals nominated to attend the international seminar on assistance and protection are required to fill in the application form contained in annex 3 ONLY.  Further information can be obtained from the office of the Director, International Cooperation and Assistance Division, OPCW, Johan de Wittlaan 32, 2517 JR  The Hague, the Netherlands.  Nominations may also be submitted by fax (+31 (0)70 306 – 3535, or by e-mail to:  EmergAssistBr/opcw@opcw.  The staff member available for further information is Ms Imen Ben Brahim
(tel.: +31 (0)70  416-3217).  

10.       Application procedure for participants attending the Third Regional Meeting of National Authorities in Latin America and the Caribbean, 27 March 2002.  Individuals nominated to attend the National Authorities regional meeting are required to fill in BOTH application forms, one contained in annex 3, and the other contained in annex 4.  Further information can be obtained from the office of the Director, International Cooperation and Assistance Division, OPCW, Johan de Wittlaan 32, 2517 JR The Hague, the Netherlands.  The two forms should be submitted together, and may also be submitted by fax (+31 (0)70 306-3535, or by e‑mail to:  ipb@opcw.org.  The following staff member will be available for further information:  Ms Maria Elena Bruno-Pousadela (tel.: +31 (0)70 416-3825).

Annexes:

Annex 1:   Provisional programme for the International Seminar on Civil Defence in Protection and Assistance Against Chemical Weapons

Annex 2:   Provisional programme for the Third Regional Meeting of National Authorities in Latin America and the Caribbean

Annex 3:   Registration form for the International Seminar on Civil Defence in Protection and Assistance Against Chemical Weapons

Annex 4:   Registration form for the Third Regional Meeting of National Authorities in Latin America and the Caribbean

ANNEX 1

INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON CIVIL DEFENCE IN

PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE AGAINST CHEMICAL WEAPONS

BRASILIA, BRASIL

25 – 27 MARCH 2002

PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME

ANNEX 2

THIRD REGIONAL MEETING OF NATIONAL AUTHORITIES IN

LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

BRASILIA, BRAZIL

 27 MARCH 2002

PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME

ANNEX 3 AND ANNEX 4

• Registration form for the International Seminar on Civil Defence in Protection and Assistance Against Chemical Weapons
• Registration form for the Third Regional Meeting of National Authorities in Latin America and the Caribbean