Latin American and Caribbean Chemical Industry Meeting

In cooperation with the Republic of Colombia, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), conducted the second regional meeting of the Latin American and Caribbean chemical industry, held in Santa Marta, Colombia from 29 to 30 June.

Representatives of National Authorities and industry from twenty-two States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) participated in the meeting, including: Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Chile, Cuba, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, the Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Spain, St Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, the United States of America and Venezuela.

During the meeting, national delegates and industry representatives shared their views on the role played by chemical industry in ensuring that toxic chemicals are used for legitimate purposes, thus preventing the spread of chemical weapons.

The OPCW’s 178 States Parties cooperate in partnership with chemical industry around the world to make sure that new chemical weapons are not produced. For instance, chemical industry is obligated to declare the production, consumption or transfer of some precursor chemicals that appear within the CWC’s lists of internationally restricted compounds. The transfer restrictions are applied to chemicals that have in the past been used to manufacture such weapons.

The meeting also granted the participants an opportunity to enhance their understanding of the on-site inspection process and the verification of these chemical’s legitimate use. The discussions included an overview of the duties of the CWC National Authorities that enforce the treaty at the national level, including identifying industry activity that should be declared, submitting declarations and escorting the resulting on-site inspections.

H.E. Ambassador Guillermo Fernández de Soto, Permanent Representative of Colombia to the OPCW, indicated that the second meeting was a clear political signal of the region’s commitment to full and comprehensive implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention. He added that the meeting also demonstrated Colombia’s willingness to share its experience and assist others in implementing the Convention. During the opening session of the meeting, Mr Carlos Herrera, Manager of Environmental Issues of the National Association of Industries, and Ignacio Ruiz, Acting Director of Multilateral Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia, reiterated the meeting’s objectives of supporting regional efforts to ensure full and effective implementation.

OPCW Director-General Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter expressed the Organisation’s gratitude for the support shown by Colombia to the full implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention through this important meeting.

PR36 / 2006

Categories: Latin America and the Caribbean, National implementation, Non-proliferation of chemical weapons