Over 40 participants from 15 States Parties in the region participated.
A 3-day Regional Training Course for National Authorities in Asia on Training Escorts for Inspections was held in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran from 8-10 August 2009. Over 40 participants from 15 States Parties in the region* participated.
The training course provided comprehensive information on the technical aspects of conducting Article VI inspections by the OPCW. The topics covered included the history of chemical weapons and international efforts to ban their use, the status of implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), and the role of National Authorities in implementing the CWC and interacting with stakeholders.
The course provided in-depth information about Article VI declaration requirements, on the Article VI verification regime of the CWC, and on the identification of potentially declarable Article VI activities. Participants were familiarized with OPCW inspection procedures, specifically the rights and obligations of States Parties in facilitating the smooth conduct of inspections.
The training also addressed practical issues relating to the preparations by National Authorities for inspections and included scenario discussions and group exercises in the practical conduct of inspections. A mock inspection exercise was held at an “Other Chemical Production Facility” (OCPF) site in which participants role-played as members of the OPCW inspection team and as national escorts.
The Regional Training Course was followed by a 3-day national training course in Tehran from 11-13 August 2009 to train escorts for inspections, which attracted more than 50 participants. The national course was designed to enhance national capacity and train participants as potential national escorts during OPCW inspections in the future. The mock inspection exercise was held at an OCPF site nearby the venue of the course.
* Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jordan, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Viet Nam
OPCW NEWS 39/2009