OPCW Conducts Third CWC Training for Iraqi Officials

From 11 to 14 December 2006, Iraqi officials received technical training on various aspects of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) from experts of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). This marks the third training course designed to assist the Iraqi officials in preparing their Government’s accession to the CWC. The training was conducted with the support and participation of the governments of Japan, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States.

The Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has hosted two of the three training courses, since it was initiated in The Hague, at the OPCW headquarters, in July 2005. A subsequent follow-up session was held in Amman, Jordan, from 6 – 9 February 2006.

The four-day intensive training course provided the Iraqi officials with the expert guidance, knowledge and skills needed to prepare mandatory declarations and to efficiently put in place the required regulatory measures to implement the Chemical Weapons Convention once Iraq joins it. The course, which was a follow-up to the February session also included a review of the progress made so far by Iraq in preparation for its accession to the Chemical Weapons Convention. Twelve Iraqi officials, representing stakeholder ministries including Defence, Foreign Affairs, Health and the National Monitoring Department of the Ministry of Science and Technology, benefited from the course.

Delegates representing the Republic of Iraq attended as observers the Eleventh Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the CWC that was convened in The Hague from 5 to 8 December 2006.

The Republic of Iraq has officially expressed its intention to accede to the Convention, as well as its commitment to all international norms related to non-proliferation, including prohibition of the development, production and acquisition of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and their delivery systems.

PR99 / 2006

Categories: Asia, Universality