http://www.opcw.org/ Latest news from OPCW en http://www.opcw.org/EXT:tt_news/ext_icon.gif http://www.opcw.org/ Latest news from OPCW TYPO3 - get.content.right http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Fri, 28 Nov 2008 12:43:00 +0100 http://www.opcw.org/index.php?id=242&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=873&cHash=425346fe35 The Embassy of Lebanon to the Kingdom of the Netherlands informed the Technical Secretariat that,... Convention. The OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter, welcomed Lebanon’s decision as a significant step to strengthen global and regional efforts to prevent the spread and use of chemical weapons. “Lebanon’s accession draws us closer to the Convention’s goal of the universal ban on chemical weapons, and we call upon those 10 remaining States that have not yet adhered to the CWC to do so without delay,” Ambassador Pfirter said. The Convention aims to eliminate an entire category of weapons of mass destruction by prohibiting the development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, retention, transfer or use of chemical weapons by States Parties, who in turn must take the steps necessary to enforce that prohibition within their jurisdiction. All States Parties to the CWC are obliged to declare and destroy any stockpiles of chemical weapons they may hold and any facilities which produced them, as well as any chemical weapons they abandoned on the territory of other States Parties in the past. All States Parties declare to the OPCW the extent of specific activities which could pose a risk to the object and purpose of the Convention. These activities are then subject to international verification and monitoring by the OPCW Secretariat, primarily through inspections, to ensure non-proliferation. States Parties also agree to abide by a verification regime for certain toxic chemicals and their precursors in order to ensure that such chemicals are only used for purposes not prohibited. As a State Party, Lebanon will now be eligible to benefit from the OPCW’s international cooperation and assistance programmes, which provide support in drafting and enacting the legislation necessary to implement the Convention at the national level. This legislation enables States Parties to detect, prosecute and punish any breach of the chemical weapons ban committed on their territory or by their nationals anywhere in the world. In addition, the Organisation provides support in the practical implementation of the Convention’s stipulations, in particular, establishing an effective National Authority to facilitate annual declarations and OPCW inspections, as well as to monitor chemical transfers and to maintain relevant chemical transfer restrictions. States Parties also receive training and may draw upon the Organisation’s expertise to enhance their national civil protection in the event of a chemical weapons attack or the threat of such an attack. Press Release 13/2008]]> Fri, 28 Nov 2008 12:43:00 +0100 http://www.opcw.org/index.php?id=242&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=882&cHash=8b8525e951 The Government of the Republic of Uganda and the OPCW co-hosted the Sixth Regional Meeting of... Wed, 26 Nov 2008 11:01:00 +0100 http://www.opcw.org/index.php?id=941 The Technical Secretariat is releasing the first version of the Electronic Declarations tool for... Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:25:00 +0100 http://www.opcw.org/index.php?id=242&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=878&cHash=d9cd8e9a8e The OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter, visited Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 19 November... Director-General Pfirter expressed deep appreciation for Africa’s strong support for the CWC and his gratitude to African States Parties for their active contribution in advancing the goals of the Convention. Underlining the strong relationship between the OPCW and African countries, he reiterated the commitment of the OPCW to further strengthen cooperation with the AU. He highlighted the Africa Programme as a symbol of his desire for lending greater depth to OPCW’s relationship with Africa. Director-General Pfirter also highlighted the importance of achieving universality and full implementation of the Convention on the continent. Participating in a debate after his statement, members of the PSC expressed their support for the Convention and its successful operation. They evinced keen interest in the work of the OPCW and its benefits not only in terms of peace and security objectives but also in the areas of assistance and protection as well as international cooperation. In his meeting with the Chairperson of the AU Commission, H.E. Mr Jean Ping, the Director-General briefed him about the status of implementation of the CWC and thanked him for the support which the AU and African States provide to the work of the OPCW. The Chairperson praised the OPCW for its achievements and excellent work and conveyed the AU’s firm support for the Convention, stressing that the African continent must remain free of chemical weapons. He also indicated his readiness to assist OPCW efforts for promoting universality of the Convention. Director-General Pfirter and Mr Ping agreed to explore further avenues of enhancing cooperation between the OPCW and the AU. The Director-General extended a cordial invitation to Dr. Ping to visit the Headquarters of the OPCW in the near future. Director-General Pfirter also met with the Deputy Chairperson of the AU Commission, H.E. Mr Erastus Mwencha, and provided him a general overview of the Convention and OPCW. The Deputy Chairperson expressed keen interest in the OPCW’s organisational matters and programmes. The Director-General met as well with the PSC Chairperson, H.E. Mull Sebujja Katende, Ambassador of Uganda to Ethiopia and to the AU. The PSC Chairperson thanked the Director-General for his very comprehensive presentation on the Convention and the OPCW, including as regards universality in Africa, and underlined the importance of bringing countries on the continent that remain States not Party into the OPCW family.]]> Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:17:00 +0100 http://www.opcw.org/index.php?id=242&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=877&cHash=4b98459825 On 13 November 2008, the OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter visited Berlin, Germany ... Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:29:00 +0100 http://www.opcw.org/index.php?id=242&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=875&cHash=65fea07e3f The Sixth Regional Meeting of National Authorities of States Parties in Asia was held in Dhaka,... Mon, 17 Nov 2008 12:21:00 +0100 http://www.opcw.org/index.php?id=242&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=874&cHash=2ae4e95494 On 11 November 2008 the city of Ieper in Belgium commemorated the 90th anniversary of the end of... Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:37:00 +0100 http://www.opcw.org/index.php?id=242&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=871&cHash=cf03d9243f A subregional training course for customs authorities in Southeast Asia on the Technical Aspects of... Tue, 11 Nov 2008 11:51:00 +0100 http://www.opcw.org/index.php?id=242&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=899&cHash=d8f6555866 On 9 November 2008, the Ninth Course on Medical Defence against Chemical Weapons concluded... claus-peter.polster@opcw.org Sun, 09 Nov 2008 18:00:00 +0100 http://www.opcw.org/index.php?id=242&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=870&cHash=ce809497e5 On 3 November 2008, the OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter visited the East West... Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:21:00 +0100