International OPCW Inspection Escort Training Held in Cuba

The Government of Cuba and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) jointly conducted a regional workshop for National Authorities of States Parties in Latin America and the Caribbean from 2 to 3 August 2005. Representatives of twenty States Parties from the region participated, including, Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela. Honduras, a Signatory State that has not yet ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), was also represented. In addition, representatives from Spain took part in the Workshop.The Government of Cuba and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) jointly conducted a regional workshop for National Authorities of States Parties in Latin America and the Caribbean from 2 to 3 August 2005. Representatives of twenty States Parties from the region participated, including, Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela. Honduras, a Signatory State that has not yet ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), was also represented. In addition, representatives from Spain took part in the Workshop.

The Workshop provided practical support in the training of escorts for international inspections conducted under the terms of the CWC. The participants are engaged in the preparation and reception of such inspections, or in drafting the necessary national implementing legislation.

In his opening remarks to the Workshop, the Vice-Minister for Science, Technology and the Environment, H.E. Dr. Wenceslao Carrera, stated that this meeting is an example of regional cooperation, providing the National Authority representatives the opportunity to exchange experiences in such important areas as receiving and escorting OPCW international inspections. He expressed the hope that by enhancing the participants' knowledge of escort training, the Workshop will prove useful in strengthening cooperation among States Parties.

On behalf of the OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter, the OPCW Director for External Relations, Mr Zhixian Liu, underscored the importance of full and effective implementation of the CWC by all 170 States Parties to ensure that the chemical weapons ban can meet its objective of eliminating chemical weapons forever. He noted that this Workshop is an integral part of the OPCW's efforts to actively provide States Parties as much assistance as possible in their effort to autonomously and effectively meet their treaty obligations. Mr Liu expressed on behalf of the OPCW his appreciation to the Government of Cuba for its strong support for the goals of the CWC and for the OPCW's mission.

The National Authority representatives had an opportunity to discuss in detail the requirements for inspections under the CWC, to review and comment on national implementing legislation, with particular regard to inspections, to exchange experience in escorting OPCW inspections, to discuss escort team training methods, and to seek advice from experts.

During the course of the Workshop, a mock inspection of an industrial facility, Planta de Detergentes Suchel Debon, was conducted to provide the participants direct and practical experience with all aspects of an OPCW inspection, including a pre-inspection briefing, physical inspection, a review of the chemical production and consumption records and the drafting of an inspection report, followed by the report's presentation to the National Escort Team.

38/2005

Categories: Inspectorate, Latin America and the Caribbean, National implementation