Djibouti Establishes OPCW National Authority

In compliance with its obligations under the Chemical

Weapons Convention (CWC), Djibouti has informed the Organisation for the Prohibition

of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) that it has designated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

and International Cooperation as its National Authority.

Article VII, paragraph 4 of the Chemical

Weapons Convention states: “In order to fulfil its obligations under the

Convention, each State Party shall designate or establish a National Authority

to serve as the national focal point for effective liaison with the Organization

and other States Parties.” A CWC National Authority is crucial in ensuring

the effective implementation of the CWC within each State Party’s national

jurisdiction.

The National Authority will take up

the responsibility of implementing the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention

(CWC) at the national level To meet its basic obligations, each State Party

must be able to submit all the required declarations, communicate with the OPCW,

cooperate with other States Parties, facilitate OPCW inspections, respond to

OPCW requests for assistance, protect the confidentiality of classified information,

monitor and enforce national compliance and cooperate in the peaceful uses of

chemistry. States Parties are obliged to declare and to eliminate all chemical

weapons stockpiles and chemical weapons production facilities. The National

Authority plays an indispensable role in all of these activities.

As at 20 November 2006, 172 of the 180 States Parties

to the Chemical Weapons Convention have established or designated National Authorities.

PR82 / 2006

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