The National Authority of France and the OPCW Technical Secretariat jointly organised the seventh Basic Course for Personnel of National Authorities Involved in the Implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which was conducted from 23 to 27 March 2009 at the Training Centre for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (CEFFIAC) in Paris, France.
Representatives from 26 States Parties participated in the event.* Since 1993, CEFFIAC has trained 180 course participants in specialised areas related to the CWC, including staff members of the OPCW and personnel from National Authorities.
Gen. Nathalie Guillou, Armaments Engineer-General and Director of the Centre for Armaments Higher Education, welcomed the participants on behalf of the French Ministry of Defence and noted the excellent relations which have been established between CEFFIAC and the OPCW. Capt. Emmanuel Carlier, Deputy-Director for Proliferation Technology with the Strategic Affairs Delegation, highlighted the importance of the training and of the Convention given that chemical weapons were used in conflicts prior to the CWC’s entry into force.
The Basic Course covered a wide variety of subjects related to the CWC, including the history of chemical weapons, rights and obligations of States Parties, legislative and administrative measures to be adopted by States Parties, establishment of National Authorities, verification and transfers regimes, assistance and protection, and old and abandoned chemical weapons. Participants were also briefed on international cooperation in the field of chemistry and implementation support programmes of the Technical Secretariat. They took part in a series of exercises on the preparation of Article VI declarations to balance the theoretical and practical aspects of the course.
The Basic Course is a key element in the assistance provided to States Parties by the Technical Secretariat that prepares National Authorities to effectively implement the CWC.
* Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Cameroon, Chile, Cuba, Djibouti, Ecuador, France, Gabon, Georgia, Ireland, Kyrgyz Republic, Lebanon, Morocco, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, the Netherlands and Turkey