Third Basic Course for OPCW National Authorities Held in Paris, France

The third Basic Course for OPCW National Authorities implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) was held in Paris, France from 13 to 23 March 2006. The Basic Course is a contribution in support of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons' (OPCW) Plan of Action Regarding the Implementation of Article VII Obligations and was made possible through assistance provided by the French Republic. Two previous courses have been held in the French capital in 2005. The fourth course in Paris is scheduled to take place in October 2006.

This assistance programme has been organized by the Centre français de formation pour l'interdiction des armes chimiques, which has in the past been involved in training operations with the OPCW.

The Basic Course was attended by representatives of the following 28 Member States, ensuring a balanced geographical distribution: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belize, Benin, Burundi, Cambodia, China, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Georgia, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Morocco, Nepal, Philippines, Portugal, Senegal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Ukraine and Zimbabwe.

Representatives from three Signatory States—the Central African Republic, Comoros, and Congo—participated in this course.

The Basic Course's programme offers a comprehensive overview of all aspects of the CWC's effective national implementation, including a detailed review of the CWC and the functioning of the OPCW, its governing bodies and the Technical Secretariat, the establishment and operation of National Authorities, the legal rights and obligations of States Parties under the CWC, and the objectives of the Plan of Action Regarding the Implementation of Article VII Obligations and its follow-up adopted by the 10th Conference of States Parties held in November 2005.

During the Basic Course, participants also had the opportunity to be introduced to types of chemical weapons, the toxic properties of chemicals, as well as the OPCW's programmes to deliver assistance and protection, foster international cooperation, and support Member States in the national implementation of the CWC, including preparation and submission of declarations and the receipt of inspections. Table-top exercises and scenarios were used to test the participants' understanding of the Convention’s implementation.

The course's opening was attended by Mr John Makhubalo, Director of the International Cooperation and Assistance Division, as well as other representatives of the OPCW's Technical Secretariat.

PR14 / 2006

Categories: National implementation