Representatives of National Authorities of States Parties implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in Latin America and the Caribbean convened their Eleventh Meeting from 15 to 17 June 2010, hosted in La Paz by the Government of the Plurinational State of Bolivia and the OPCW. The meeting attracted 27 participants from 21 States Parties* in the region.
The Bolivian Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Mónica Soriano López, and Vice Minister of Defence, Mr Jose Luis Prudencio Medrano, opened the meeting by reviewing the progress made since the first regional meeting, highlighted by the achievement of universality in Latin America and the Caribbean when the CWC entered into force for the Bahamas in May 2009.
The OPCW Legal Adviser, Mr Santiago Oñate, speaking on behalf of the Director-General, also noted the tremendous strides that the Latin American and Carribean States Parties to the CWC have made in their efforts to implement the requirements of the Convention. All 33 States Parties in the region have now established their National Authority.
The meeting provided participants with an overview of the status of implementation of the Convention and recent developments since the 14th Session of the Conference of States Parties in December 2009. The meeting also explored and elaborated on the requirements of Article VII and its status of implementation; new developments regarding the implementation of Article VI; and, the submission of Article VI declarations in electronic form.
Participants also had the opportunity to review existing methods to collect data on the import and export of Scheduled chemicals, as well as to discuss their experiences in receiving chemical industry inspections and ways to improve their effectiveness and efficiency. Discussions also addressed the activities and efforts by National Authorities to assist their chemical sectors in promoting safe management and handling of chemicals.
The regional meeting offered a platform for participating National Authorities and the Technical Secretariat to exchange views on different aspects relating to the status of implementation and the verification regime of the Convention. Participants held bilateral meetings with OPCW experts to discuss legal issues and matters relating to declarations, industry issues and international cooperation.
*Argentina, Bahamas, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Haiti, the Netherlands (Aruba), Peru, St Kitts & Nevis, St Vincent & Grenadines, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela.
OPCW News 18/2010