African CWC National Authorities Meet in Tanzania

20 October 2006
African CWC National Authorities Meet in Tanzania

The Fourth Regional Meeting of African National Authorities implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention was held in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania on 16 and 17 October 2006. The meeting was attended by 82 participants from 33 States Parties, as well as one contracting State—the Central African Republic. The Chairman of the Conference of the States Parties, H.E. Ambassador José Antonio Arróspide from Peru, attended the National Authority meeting.

In his remarks at the opening ceremony, Mr John Makhubalo, Director of International Cooperation and Assistance, read a message from the Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter, in which he thanked Tanzania for co-hosting this important meeting and commended it for taking steps towards effective implementation of the provisions of the Convention. Director-General Pfirter also noted that “since the adoption of the Plan of Action regarding the implementation of Article VII obligations by the Conference of the States Parties at its Eighth Session in October 2003, the Technical Secretariat, with active support from Member States, has undertaken an unprecedented effort in terms of the breadth and depth of its programmes to support those Member States requesting assistance in fulfilling their Article VII obligations, especially in Africa”. He further stated that “since entry into force of the Convention, the OPCW has made rapid strides towards achieving universal adherence to the Convention. Since the adoption of an Action Plan for Universality, significant results in Africa have been achieved. Presently, we have only five States in Africa – Angola, Congo (Brazzaville), Guinea-Bissau, Somalia and Egypt — that have yet to join the OPCW. The OPCW is making every effort to encourage these States to join the Convention and we are confident that the OPCW will soon enjoy universal membership on the African continent”.

In his opening address, H. E. Dr Ali Mohamed Shein, Vice President of the United Republic of Tanzania, noted that “it cannot be denied that many people in our countries do not understand well issues relating to chemical disarmament and the Chemical Weapons Convention. But history shows us that chemical weapons have been used in several countries. In Africa, they were used in Angola, Guinea-Bissau, Egypt, Mozambique and Zimbabwe”. He further noted that “it is necessary, therefore, to have a collective measure against this threat, for us all, through the Chemical Weapons Convention. Let us all agree to initiate, and extend, to all of our citizens, intensive programmes on advocacy, and defensive civil programmes, and enable them to have a better understanding of the Chemical Weapons Convention. Regulatory measures in the import, export and use of scheduled chemicals are, therefore, crucial and need to be in place for all citizens to cooperate with their respective National Authorities of the States Parties to the Convention”. Dr Ali Mohamed Shein commended “the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, under the able leadership of its Director-General, for the work well done in prohibiting chemical weapons. Tanzania is grateful for the technical assistance rendered to our National Authority which has enabled it to play its role”. 
  
The meeting also discussed implementation-related issues, including offers of assistance and requests for assistance by Member States to meet their Article VII obligations, the identification and better quality of declarable Article VI activities by States Parties. Bilateral consultations on Article VII implementation-related issues also took place with all participating States Parties.