OPCW

1. In late 1998 the Secretariat will hold another nine-day course for personnel involved in the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention. The course curriculum, which is the same as for the course being held from 24 August - 1 September 1998, is contained in annex 1 to this document.

2. The course will be held at the Netherlands Defence College (Instituut Defensie Leergangen) in Ypenburg, near The Hague, the Netherlands, from 7 to 15 December 1998. The course fee will be NLG 1,000 per person, which includes all meals, medical insurance, the costs of course materials and handouts, and course-related travel within the Netherlands. The fee does not include the costs of travel to and from the Netherlands, and is payable in advance.

3. The course has been designed for the personnel of National Authorities, who could face a multitude of responsibilities when preparing for and actually implementing the Convention. It should be noted that the course will not be able to cover the more specialised needs of CW "possessor" Member States of the OPCW.

4. The course consists of four modules. Module A focuses on introductory aspects of the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, and is suitable for participants with a limited background knowledge of the Convention. Module B deals with declaration-related issues, while module C considers inspection-related issues. For modules B and C the participants will require some background knowledge of the Convention, perhaps gained from the introductory module A. Finally, module D deals with the National Authority at work.

5. Participants may decide in advance whether they wish to follow the course beginning with module A, or whether they would prefer to attend only the more advanced modules - B, C and D.

6. Throughout the course, the language of instruction will be English. It will not be possible for participants to follow the course unless they have a good working knowledge of that language. No interpretation facilities of any kind will be provided.

7. Extensive background material on the subjects covered by the course will be made available to the participants upon confirmation of their participation, to allow them to prepare themselves for the course. Upon request, this material will be sent to the appropriate missions in The Hague and Brussels, to be forwarded to participants.

8. The Secretariat expects to be able to sponsor a limited number of candidates nominated by the Member States of the OPCW, to cover their travel costs and course fees. When proposing candidates for the course, Member States should specify whether sponsorship is a precondition for their participation. Participants in previous courses for the personnel of National Authorities that have been arranged by the Secretariat will not be considered for such sponsorship.

9. Member States of the OPCW which have not sent participants to any such courses previously organised by the Secretariat are particularly encouraged to submit candidates for the present course. One candidate from each such Member State will be given priority.

10. Applications from signatory States on behalf of candidates who will participate at their own expense are also encouraged. The number of such places available for candidates from signatory States may, however, be limited.

11. Member States and signatory States are invited to submit the names of candidates for participation in the course to the Secretariat not later than 30 October 1998. Applications received after that date will not normally be considered. All applications, together with the information requested in the form contained in annex 2 to this Note, should be addressed to the Director, International Cooperation and Assistance Division, OPCW, Johan de Wittlaan 32, NL-2517 JR The Hague, The Netherlands. Applications may also be submitted by fax (+31-70-306 3535) or by e-mail (webmaster@opcw.org).

12. Additional information pertaining to the course may be obtained from the International Cooperation and Assistance Division of the OPCW, which can be contacted as specified in the previous paragraph.

Develop a conceptually based overview of the history of disarmament efforts, as well as an understanding and knowledge of the provisions of the CWC and the rights and obligations of a State Party. The subjects include: an overview of the CWC; the objectives and purposes of the CWC; the benefits of the CWC; and sources of information on the CWC.

Duration: 1 period

1.2 ORGANISATION FOR THE PROHIBITION OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS (OPCW)

Develop an understanding and knowledge of the OPCW, its structure and mission.

Duration: 2 periods

Develop an overview of the legislative and administrative measures required to implement the CWC in a State Party.

Duration: 1 period

1.4 THE HISTORY OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS AND PROTECTION AGAINST CHEMICAL WEAPONS

Develop an understanding of the history of chemical weapons. Develop an understanding and knowledge of chemical hazards and CW agents, and of means of protection against such agents.

Duration: 2 periods

Develop an understanding and knowledge of the measures that will be required to designate or establish a National Authority in a State Party. Demonstrate a good understanding of the obligations of national structures, including the National Authority, as specified in the Convention. Develop a fundamental understanding of the operational tasks in general of national bodies charged with the implementation of the Convention, including the National Authorities of States Parties.

Duration: 2 periods

Develop an understanding and knowledge of database handling and data collection techniques, and of means of ensuring confidentiality and data security.

Duration: 2 periods

Develop an understanding of how declarable activities in a State Party, especially declarable imports, can be identified, and of the regulations that may be required to ascertain the accuracy of the declared data.

Duration: 3 periods

1.8 OPERATIONAL TASKS RELATING TO INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, TRADE AND ASSISTANCE

Develop an understanding of the operational tasks for States Parties relating to international cooperation, trade and assistance. Develop an understanding of the programmes operated by the OPCW to promote international cooperation in the fields of chemistry and chemical technology.

Duration: 2 periods

Develop the ability to contribute, with the help of the Declaration Handbook, to the preparation of correct and timely declarations as required under the Convention.

Duration: 4 periods

2.2 DECLARATION EXERCISES

On the basis of presented data, develop a national declaration related to imports and exports of scheduled chemicals and a national declaration related to two facilities producing, processing or consuming scheduled chemicals.

Duration: 4 periods

2.3 DECLARATION PROBLEMS

Discuss various problems that may be encountered by National Authorities when preparing declarations and by the Secretariat when evaluating declarations, and identify possible solutions.

Duration: 2 periods

Develop an understanding of the rights and obligations of a State Party in relation
to inspections.

Duration: 3 periods

Develop an understanding and knowledge of the inspection process, including the scope of verification, CWC inspection requirements, inspectors’ rights and obligations, monitoring and sampling, storage and transport of samples of toxic materials and analytical methods and instrumentation.

Duration: 4 periods

3.3 ARTICLE IX OF THE CONVENTION

Develop an understanding of the need for consultations and procedures for cooperation and fact-finding, especially challenge inspections, that will contribute to the object and purpose of the Convention.

Duration: 1 period

3.4 INVESTIGATIONS OF ALLEGED USE

Develop an understanding of investigations of alleged use, including the requirements for requesting an investigation under Articles IX or X of the Convention.

Duration: 2 periods

4. MODULE D: THE NATIONAL AUTHORITY AT WORK

4.1 SCENARIOS

Develop an understanding of how to apply the provisions of the Convention to "real-life-situations" using decision-making scenarios.

Duration: 12 periods (of which 4 periods are allowed for presentations of solutions to the scenarios)

4.2 USING THE INTERNET

Develop an understanding of how the Internet, and particularly the OPCW website, can be used as a tool to help the National Authority.

Duration: 2 periods (in small groups)

4.3 EXAMPLES OF NATIONAL AUTHORITIES

Participants will be requested to describe their National Authorities, how they are organised, how they work, and what problems they might encounter.

Duration: 2 periods

Total suggested duration of the lectures, exercises and scenarios: 51 periods

In addition, three periods will be required for opening of the course, administrative matters, course evaluation and closing of the course. The total duration of the course will therefore be 54 periods.

Annex 2