News

11/05/2016

HE Dr Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and President of the Committee for Goods and Materials Subject to Import and Export Control, today launched, in Dubai, the 15th Regional Meeting of National Authorities of States Parties in Asia.  The meeting and accompanying exhibition have been organised by the Executive Office of the Committee for Goods and Materials Subject to Import and Export Control, in partnership with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, OPCW, and will run until 18th May with more than 35 participants from 30 countries.

The launch was attended by HE Talal Mohammed Al Tenaiji, Director of the Executive Office for the Committee for Goods and Materials Subject to Import and Export Control, HE Hamza Khelif, Director of International Cooperation and Assistance in OPCW, and a number of government officials. The participating countries’ delegations, representatives of the executive office, concerned government authorities, the delegation accompanying Khelif, and representatives of the Asian countries in the organisation, were also present on the occasion.

Addressing the meeting, HE Al Tenaiji expressed his appreciation to the OPCW for its continuous efforts and its effective role in the international scene in banning chemical weapons. He underscored that the UAE believes in the organisation’s charter and the goals of the Chemical Weapons Convention, which reflected the world’s countries endeavour to permanently and verifiably eliminate chemical weapons.

“Destruction of around 95 per cent of chemical weapons around the world is an important step towards the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention for a world free of chemical weapons. This calls for the continuousness of cooperation in this regard through coordination with concerned entities in the UAE, organising courses and workshops at national and regional levels with the aim of promoting control on import, export and usage of restricted chemical materials. Participation in specialised workshops that are conducive to enhance the efficiency of staff working in this field is also necessary,” said Al Tenaiji.

For his part, HE Hamza Khelif, Director of International Cooperation and Assistance in OPCW, delivered a speech in which he extended his thanks and appreciation to the OPCW’s National Member States and to the UAE government for hosting the meeting that reflects the consistent support to the OPCW’s charter and the belief of these countries in the importance of cooperation on the regional level to guarantee its effective application.

“There has been a remarkable achievement throughout the past 20 years following the entry into force of the OPCW’s charter for a world free of chemical weapons. So far, 192 member states have adopted the Chemical Weapon Convention. This means that 98 percent of the world’s population are under its protection,” Khelif added. He lauded the efforts by the organisation in monitoring and controlling production and consumption of chemical materials. Around 3500 inspection campaigns have been launched to ensure the production and consumption of these materials are for peaceful purposes, he explained, noting that many challenges still exist in this regard.

Khelif referred to media reports on victims of the alleged chemical attacks in Syria as a reminder that the threat of chemical weapons is still present. It highlights, he said, the importance of exerting more efforts towards implementing the charter worldwide, that being the only guarantor against the threats of such weapons.

Marking the 20^th anniversary of the OPCW and the enforcement of its convention (1997 – 2017), the Executive Office for the Committee for Goods and Materials Subject to Import and Export Control organised an exhibition on the sidelines of the meeting. Called by HE Dr Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, the exhibition consisted of eight stands; the Armed Forces’ stand, represented by the Directorate of Chemical Defence Command;  Ministry of Interior, represented by the General Directorate of Civil Defence - Dubai; Abu Dhabi Police GHQ, represented by the Directorate of Central Operations; Dubai Police; the National Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Authority; Tawazun Safety Security & Disaster Management City (Jaheziya); and ADNOC, in addition to a stand for Hot Zone Solutions Group, the main sponsor of the exhibition.

Held in participation of government and semi-government entities and private sector, the exhibition is aimed at highlighting the distinguished partnership with the OPCW in eliminating the use of chemical weapons and the UAE’s endeavours in the areas of prevention and awareness raising of the dangerous risks of such weapons. It also aspires to attract a wide segment of the civil and military society, especially university and school students, military academies, government entities and private sector companies.

The meeting allowed the opportunity for discussing the structure and nature of work of the national authorities, and sharing of experiences and best practices, and emerging challenges to the convention at national level. The participants further looked over achievements made over the past twenty years of OPCW. A discussion panel was also held on the occasion under the title, “20 years of the operation of the Chemical Weapon Convention”, addressing achievements made, challenges to the OPCW, including a number of security issues at regional and international levels. It also discussed the importance of partnering with the sector involved in chemical materials and the peaceful use of these materials.

The convened members also reviewed the current status of the implementation of Chemical Weapons Prohibition Charter, including achievements made and challenges facing the member states. They also demonstrated and discussed the structure and mechanism of work of the national authorities, their achievements, challenges to the convention and plans for 2017. Discussions also addressed the capability building activities carried out by the secretariat of the organisation, issues related to the region and the regional priorities for technical support.

The participants underlined the need to boost international cooperation to prevent proliferation of weapons of mass destruction through coordination, exchange of intelligence and leverage of control and inspection procedures related to materials of mass destruction by providing the highest international training to the competent control and customs departments and units.

They called for providing an infrastructure that is furnished with the latest equipment and technology, supported by specific control measures on exports, stressing the need for putting in place the relevant laws and regulations.

Worth mentioning, the Executive Office for the Committee for Goods and Materials Subject to Import and Export Control was created in 2009 and carries out its duties from the office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dubai.

The UAE issued Federal Law No. 13 of the year 2007 regarding goods and materials subject to import and export control. It discusses all the goods that are controlled, particularly materials related to weapons of mass destruction. The committee was also established according to this law, of which the executive office plays an important role in implementing international decisions in coordination with specialised authorities.

This is done by following a mechanism of issuing permits for the entry and exit of shipments subject to control through the custom ports of the country. The aim is to prevent the abuse of trading facilitations offered by the country, the exceptional geographic location, the size of shipments passing through the country, and commercial exchange with different countries in the world.

This 15th regional meeting of National Authorities serves as a forum in which the States Parties in the region can present their and share their experiences in relation to implementation of the OPCW’s charter and the Chemical Weapons Convention. It is also an opportunity for them to indicate what assistance they can offer to other States Parties in this regard.