OPCW Deputy Director-General Mrs Grace Asirwatham (left) at the 12th Regional Meeting of National Authorities in Asia
The OPCW Deputy Director-General, Mrs. Grace Asirwatham, together with the Chairman of the Indian National Authority, Dr. Prajapati Trivedi, inaugurated the Twelfth Regional Meeting of National Authorities in Asia on 16 July 2014 in New Delhi.
The meeting was held from 16 to 18 July and attended by 45 participants from 30 States Parties in the region. A representative from Myanmar, a State-not-Party, also participated. Australia, a regular participant in these meetings, deputed an official representative as well. This annual meeting of National Authorities is an important opportunity to share experiences and best practices regarding implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).
In her opening statement [PDF – 20 KB] the Deputy Director-General underlined the need for full and effective implementation of the Convention and the important role that National Authorities play in this regard. Mrs. Asirwatham assured all support and assistance to States Parties from the region on behalf of the Technical Secretariat.
During her visit the Deputy Director-General had bilateral meetings with H.E. Mr. Navtej Sarna, Special Secretary (International Organisations and Political), Ministry of External Affairs. She also addressed the National Authority Advisory Board of India, which advises on important matters related to national CWC implementation. The discussions touched upon the current challenges and future direction of the OPCW, universality, and progress in the destruction of Syrian chemicals, inter alia.