The Government of Switzerland and the OPCW jointly organised a basic training course for instructors on protection against chemical weapons, held from 27 June to 1 July 2011 at the NBC Centre of Competence in Spiez. Twenty-two instructors from 18 States Parties* participated.
The instructors received basic training in protection against chemical weapons and in detection. The course also provided a basic introduction to chemical warfare agents, individual protective measures, and detection and decontamination equipment. Its main purpose is to help States Parties establish a basic capability in this area that could directly benefit civilian populations.
The opening ceremony was attended by Major General Jean-Marc Halter, Chief, Armed Forces Joint Staff of Switzerland. In his address Major General Halter said the current international security environment highlights the need for response capacity in terms of protection. To strengthen national chemical weapons protection capability, General Halter said, Switzerland provides courses to develop knowledge and skills in using protective, analytical and decontamination equipment, as well as to train experts in the use of protective equipment.
The Spiez course relates to an offer made by Switzerland, under Article X of the Chemical Weapons Convention, to provide assistance and protection against chemical weapons.
* Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Croatia, Czech Republic, Ethiopia, Jamaica, Iraq, Malaysia, Oman, Paraguay, Philippines, Saint Lucia, Tanzania, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Ukraine.
Swiss Basic Course in Protection against Chemical Weapons
8 July 2011