Qatar National Committee on Arms Embargo Launches Its E-Website Tomorrow

Doha ,February 20(QNA)- Activities of the training course for the representatives of the national authorities of the asian countries who are in charge of the annual declarations of the banned chemical substances as per the 6th article of the chemical weapons convention are to kick off tomorrow, Tuesday at "La Cigale" hotel here . The three-day course , to be organised under the patronage of HE Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Maj.Gen. Hamad Bin Ali Al Attiyah , will be inaugurated by chairman of the National Committee on Arms Embargo Air Commodore Nasser Mohamed Al Ali. The said training course is to be organised by the National Committee on Arms Embargo in cooperation with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) . Following the opening ceremony, Air Commodore Al-Ali will inaugurate the e-website of the said national committee to issue the annal declarations of the chemical substances where it will be for the first time the issuance of such declarations will be made electronically via the said committee on the Internetin and it will be in the presence of HE Marc Bon, the Chief of the Implementation Support of the Hague-based Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). The OPCW include three schedules of chemicals which are subject to the convention which although there are materials are strictly prohibited, yet the convention at the same time, has laid controls for chemicals permitted for use in industrial business, in order not to deviate to such materials and used in the manufacture of chemical weapons. Article VI of the convention provides for restrictions on the non-prohibited activities and ratified t the right of States Parties to the Convention in the development and use of chemicals for non-prohibited purposes, and obliged at the same time, the States Parties to issue annual declarations on the chemicals brought by or developed, as used, and the remaining quantities of it with a view to making a balance between strict controls on these materials due to their gravity, and not to hinder the economic and technological development of States Parties and the exchange of scientific and technical information among themselves. It is worth mentioning that since the establishment of the OPCW and the emergence of such a convention, the State of Qatar was at the forefront of the countries that joined the organization, the matter which clearly reflects long-term vision of the supreme leadership in the state and out of its belief in the principles of Islamic religion, which prohibited the abuse and killing of the soul out of its firm belief in the gravity and seriousness of such a lethal weapon and the need to bring about concerted international efforts to destroy all the arsenals and stockpiles of chemical weapons and equipment related to the protection of mankind and the environment together. The State of Qatar agreed to sign the agreement in 1993, and ratified it on the 13th of August 1997, also established the National Committee of the Arms Embargo as per the cabinet's decision No. (26) of 2004, and finally issued Law No. (17) of 2007, which is now being amended via a proposal of the National Committee of the Arms Embargo. The said committe also finalized preparation of a draft agreement of the privileges and immunities with the Organization and which was submitted to the cabinet for approval and then for signing with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons(OPCW. It is noted that such a training course is being oganized for the fourth year in a row in Doha, in recognition of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons of the status of the State of Qatar, which is always renown for its ongoing quest to maintain international peace and security, and its due keenness on well organization and good preparations and the warm hospitality accorded to the guests. (QNA)