DOHA: The annual meeting of representatives of Chemical Industry and National Authorities of States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention opened yesterday.
The meeting is discussing the role the parties must play in prohibiting weapons.
The three-day conference is being held by National Committee for the Prohibition of Weapons (NCPW), in collaboration with Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
Brigadier (Air) Hassan Saleh Al Nesf, Deputy Chairman, NCPW, said the previous meeting in November last year was confined to Asian countries, while this year it includes participants from various continents.
The importance of this meeting is that it includes representatives of chemical industry to ensure optimal implementation of Article 6 of the convention.
The article permits many uses for chemicals for industrial purposes and puts a framework to make it transparent and make sure they are not used for prohibited purposes.
Qatar is committed to its obligations according to Article 7 of the convention.
Pankaj Sharma, Senior Coordination and Planning Officer, OPCW, said the chemical industry is one of the key stakeholders in the effective national implementation of the convention and its continued involvement and support is vital to its success.
The NCPW is taking measures to prevent risks of biological weapons and Qatar is keen to support activities and efforts of the OPCW to achieve goals.
The Peninsula
