DYB2011-Part-II-web

United Nations Disarmament Yearbook 2011: Part II
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This represented an increase of more than 9 per cent compared with the level
reached in 2010 for Category 1 chemicals. During the year, 209 inspections
were conducted in accordance with article VI of the Convention.
Libya had destroyed more than half of its declared stockpiles of chemical
weapons by 8 February, when operations were halted due to technical
problems in the destruction facility. In response to the evolving situation in
Libya, OPCW took a number of steps, including communicating with the
United Nations Secretary-General and States parties to offer OPCW assistance
and protection against chemical weapons, as needed. The Organisation’s
inspectors returned to the country to continue destruction of existing chemical
weapons stockpiles. On 28 November, the Libyan authorities submitted a new
declaration regarding additional suspected chemical weapons present in the
country, to be verified by OPCW. The Secretariat continued to work closely
with Libya for the earliest possible destruction of the remaining stockpiles.
In November, OPCW conducted a comprehensive challenge inspection
exercise covering the main aspects of a challenge inspection, including both
its headquarters procedures and field activities. The Government of Thailand
hosted the field portion of this exercise.
The annual meeting of National Authorities, held from 25 to
27 November in The Hague, considered a range of issues relating to the
effective national implementation of the Convention. The event was attended
by 160 representatives from 110 States parties. In addition, the Technical
Secretariat conducted four Regional Meetings of National Authorities
throughout 2011, in Asia (Singapore), Africa (Ghana), Eastern Europe
(Estonia) and Latin America and the Caribbean (Argentina). Thirteen
technical assistance visits were undertaken in 10 States parties42 to assist them
in implementing the Convention; these covered a range of support activities
including legal assistance, customs and industry engagement.
On 23 September, the twelfth edition of the Associate Programme
was successfully concluded. Participants represented 28 States parties, 43
including 11 African States. 44 The intensive nine-week programme entailed
conducting modules at OPCW headquarters and the University of Surrey in
the United Kingdom, as well as hands-on training at state-of-the-art plants
in the chemical industry. To date, the Associate Programme has trained 265
scientists and engineers from 96 developing countries and countries with
42 Algeria, Armenia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Cape Verde, Congo, Gambia, Malaysia, Mexico and
Sierra Leone.
43 Algeria, Argentina, Belarus, Botswana, Brazil, Cameroon, Cuba, Democratic Republic of
the Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Madagascar,
Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Philippines, Samoa, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda,
Ukraine and Uzbekistan.
44 Algeria, Botswana, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana,
Kenya, Madagascar, Nigeria, Tunisia and Uganda.