The second Basic Course for OPCW National Authorities implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) was held in Paris, France from 3 to 13 October 2005. The Basic Course was made possible in part by a contribution from the French Republic in support of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons’ (OPCW) Plan of Action Regarding the Implementation of Article VII Obligations. A similar course took place in Paris from 20 to 30 June 2005.
The Basic Course was attended by representatives of the following 22 Member States: Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Belarus, Botswana, Dominica, Gabon, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Macedonia, Mali, Mexico, Moldova, Peru, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
Representatives from three Signatory States — Comoros, Guinea Bissau and Haiti — and from Angola, a State that has neither ratified nor acceded to the CWC, participated in this event.
The Basic Course’s programme provides a comprehensive overview of all aspects of the CWC’s effective national implementation, including a detailed review of the CWC and the functioning of the OPCW, its governing bodies and the Technical Secretariat, the establishment and operation of National Authorities, the legal rights and obligations of States Parties under the CWC, and the objectives of the Plan of Action Regarding the Implementation of Article VII Obligations.
During the Basic Course, participants also were provided an overview of the types of chemical weapons, the toxic properties of chemicals, the OPCW’s programmes to deliver assistance and protection and foster international cooperation, as well as to provide Member States with support in the implementation of the CWC, including preparation and submission of declarations and the receipt of inspections. Table-top exercises and scenarios were used to test the participants’ understanding of the Convention’s implementation.
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