97% of States Parties in the Asia region have now established National Authorities.
The Seventh Regional Meeting of National Authorities in Asia was held from 28 to 30 October 2009 in Hanoi, Viet Nam. The meeting attracted more than 50 participants from 30 States Parties* as well as a representative from Myanmar, a State not Party.
In a message to the meeting the OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter, thanked the Government of Viet Nam for hosting the event and commended Viet Nam for its strong support to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and the OPCW. The Director-General stressed the critical role played by National Authorities in ensuring implementation of the CWC at the national level, and highlighted the fact that 97% of States Parties in the Asia region have now established National Authorities.
In his remarks to the opening session the Vice Minister of Industry and Trade, Mr Nguyen Nam Hai, noted that Viet Nam has strictly fulfilled its obligations as a State Party to the Convention. He cited the adoption of the CWC Implementing Government Decree and amendments to the relevant provisions of the Vietnamese Penal Code (2000) as comprehensive measures to create a proper framework for effective implementation of the Convention.
The regional meeting offered a platform for participating National Authorities and the Technical Secretariat to share information and experiences on different aspects relating to industry verification. Participants exchanged views on enhancing regional and sub-regional cooperation, identified areas for possible cooperation, and held bilateral meetings with OPCW Technical Secretariat staff on national implementation issues.
* Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Fiji, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Republic of Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Philippines, Qatar, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam and Yemen
OPCW NEWS 49/2009