 |
OPCW | Technical Secretariat | |
| International Cooperation and Assistance Division | |||
| S/326/2002 | |||
| 5 December 2002 | |||
| ENGLISH & SPANISH only | |||
| Unofficial electronic version | |||
NOTE BY THE TECHNICAL SECRETARIAT
INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FOURTH REGIONAL MEETING OF NATIONAL AUTHORITIES IN
LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
PANAMA CITY, PANAMA, 27-28 FEBRUARY 2003
1.
The National Authority of Panama and the Technical Secretariat of the Organisation
for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (hereinafter “the Secretariat”) invite
representatives of National Authorities to participate in the Fourth Regional
Meeting of National Authorities in Latin America and the Caribbean, to take
place on
27-28 February 2003 in Panama City, Panama.
2.
The process of consultations in Latin America and the Caribbean, stimulated
by the meetings of regional National Authorities held in Lima, Peru in 2000,
in
Viña del Mar, Chile in 2001, and in Brasilia, Brazil in 2002, has provided
an important impetus to ensuring effective compliance with the Chemical Weapons
Convention (hereinafter the “Convention”). The Fourth Regional National Authority
meeting is being convened to build upon that tradition. The provisional programme
of the Fourth Regional Meeting of National Authorities is contained in Annex
1 to this invitation note.
3. The aims of the meeting are:
(a) to facilitate the exchange of information and experiences in the field of implementation of the Convention and to promote cooperation amongst National Authorities;
(b) to identify common implementation problems and facilitate their resolution through cooperative efforts of States Parties and the Secretariat;
(c) to contribute to greater self-sufficiency of national implementation capacities; and
(d) to promote enhanced awareness of the provisions of the Convention.
4. In accordance with the interest expressed by the representatives of National Authorities of the region during the Fourth Annual Meeting of National Authorities, the meeting in Panama will focus on the legal aspects of national implementation of the Convention. The Secretariat invites National Authorities to nominate candidates involved in the drafting, approval and implementation of Convention-related national legislation. In keeping with the tradition of regional national authority meetings, active participation is expected of attendees. Each participant in the meeting will be invited to make a brief statement on the CWC legislative situation in his or her country and to describe any impediments that may be experienced in enacting or enforcing that legislation. The meeting will provide a forum in which the participants can pool their experiences with a view to adopting the most efficient strategies for preparing the legislative/regulatory framework for implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention.
5. To further support the substantive programme of the meeting, the Secretariat plans the participation in the meeting of members of the Latin American Network of Legal Experts.
6. The Secretariat expects to be able to sponsor a limited number of participants. Nominations should specify whether sponsorship is a precondition for participation. For sponsored participants, the Secretariat will cover the costs of travel, accommodation and medical insurance. It will also provide a limited subsistence allowance to cover other related costs such as meals. The Secretariat will cover the cost of accommodation only when such accommodation is arranged by it. Participants who do not need or intend to use the accommodation to be provided by the Secretariat are requested to inform the Secretariat accordingly as early as possible in order to avoid any cancellation fees. The daily subsistence allowance will remain unchanged in the event participants should opt to make their own accommodation arrangements. In making travel arrangements for the sponsored participants, the Secretariat will use the most economical arrangements possible.
7. 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 this has been authorised in advance by the Secretariat. Participants are expected to arrive on Wednesday, 26 February 2003, and depart on Saturday, 1 March 2003. The Secretariat should be informed of any changes to these dates by the deadline indicated in paragraph 9 below. The Secretariat will not cover expenses related to changes in travel arrangements requested by participants after that date and/or unrelated to the purposes of the meeting. Any costs due to changes or cancellations made by participants after the tickets have been purchased shall be borne by the participants. When making travel arrangements for sponsored participants, the Secretariat will seek to use the most economic options available. Non-sponsored participants are requested to make their own travel and accommodation arrangements, although, if necessary, the Secretariat can arrange accommodation at reduced rates.
8. Depending on the requirements of confirmed participants and the availability of the relevant resources, English and Spanish simultaneous interpretation services may be provided throughout the meetings. Participants are requested to obtain necessary visas (including transit visas) before travelling to Panama.
9. National Authorities are invited to submit the names of those individuals they have selected for participation to the Secretariat not later than, Monday 24 January, 2003, using, the registration form contained in annex 2 to this note. The completed registration forms should be addressed as indicated in the forms. It is important that all the details requested on the forms be provided, and that the forms 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 registration.
10.
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: ipb@opcw.org
and
Ms Maria Elena Bruno-Pousadela (+31-(0)-70-416-3825).
Annexes:
Annex 1: Provisional programme for the Fourth Regional Meeting of National Authorities
Annex 2: Registration form for the Fourth Regional Meeting of National Authorities