Suriname Establishes OPCW National Authority

In compliance with its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention, the Republic of Suriname has informed the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) of the establishment of its National Authority by designating the Defence Strategic Planning and Training Department of the Ministry of Defence as its provisional National Authority.

Article VII, paragraph 4 of the Chemical Weapons Convention states: “In order to fulfil its obligations under the Convention, each State Party shall designate or establish a National Authority to serve as the national focal point for effective liaison with the Organization and other States Parties.” As the national focal point for communication between States Parties, the national data collection point, and the facilitator of national implementation, a CWC National Authority is crucial in ensuring the Convention’s effective application within each State Party’s national jurisdiction.

To meet its basic obligations, each State Party must be able to submit all the required declarations, communicate with the OPCW, cooperate with other States Parties, facilitate OPCW inspections, respond to OPCW requests for assistance, protect the confidentiality of classified information, monitor and enforce national compliance and cooperate in the peaceful uses of chemistry. States Parties are obliged to declare and to eliminate all chemical weapons stockpiles and chemical weapons production facilities. The National Authority plays an indispensable role in all of these activities.

FOR INFORMATION — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD

For further information please contact: Media and Public Affairs Branch, + 31 (0) 70 416 3710, media@opcw.org,
Johan de Wittlaan 32, 2517 JR The Hague, The Netherlands.