The Republic of Palau and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) are co-hosting a legal workshop for the Pacific Islands States in Koror, Palau from 15 to 17 August 2007. All of the Pacific Island States are OPCW Member States. Representatives of eight of the fourteen Pacific Island States are participating in the workshop: Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Samoa, Vanuatu, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Nauru, the Solomon Islands and the Republic of Palau.
During the workshop, OPCW legal experts met the drafters developing the national legislation that is necessary to enforce the Chemical Weapons Convention. They discussed the States Parties’ progress in fulfilling their national implementation obligations. The participating States Parties shared their national implementation experience and discussed the possibilities of creating a sub-regional network for implementation purposes.
In his opening statement to the workshop, the Minister of State of the Republic of Palau, H.E. Mr Temmy L. Shmull, stated that “Palau is committed to work with all the Pacific Islands States, in close collaboration with the OPCW, as well as the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat to promote universality and, more importantly to ensure and expedite the adoption of national implementing legislation for all States Parties in the region”. He also said that Palau, if requested, is willing to assist States Parties in the region with completing their Article VII obligations.
The participating States Parties also held bilateral consultations to discuss current progress and any further implementation-related assistance they may require in the future. The workshop concludes on 17 August 2007.
PR83 / 2007