The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in collaboration with the Government of Croatia is conducting the first exercise on the delivery of assistance (ASSISTEX I)) in Zadar, Croatia, from 10 to 14 September 2002. The OPCW team departed for Zadar on 8 September 2002 from Eindhoven Airport, The Netherlands.
The main focus of the ASSISTEX I exercise is to evaluate the level of alertness of the OPCW in dealing with a scenario where assistance is required in case a State Party is exposed to a chemical weapons attack. Approximately 15 States Parties, 300 personnel and 100 tonnes of equipment are involved in executing this planned exercise.
The scenario illustrated during this exercise is of a possible chemical terrorist attack in an airport. The affected State Party requests the OPCW for assistance under the provisions of Article X of the Chemical Weapons Convention. The Secretariat will dispatch the Assistance and Coordination Team (ACAT) to evaluate the situation. Following the report submitted by ACAT, the Executive Council will take a decision of providing assistance to the affected State Party. ASSISTEX I reaffirms the commitment of the OPCW to the crucial provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
56/2002