The Ministry of Immigration, National Security and Defence permanent secretary Mr. Osea Cawaru is heading the Fijian delegation to the Annual Meeting of National Authorities to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in The Hague, Netherlands.
The weeklong meeting which began this week serves as a platform for National Authority officials to converge, network and share best practices in the implementation of the CWC. He is accompanied by the Mrs. Silina Cama, Manager of the Security Forces Division at the Fijian Defence Ministry.
A symposium on the Chemical Safety and Security preceded the annual meeting. This forum covered areas of interest which clearly establishes rights and obligation of States Parties, Chemical industries in covering different aspects of Chemical Safety and Security that may contravene the provisions of United Nations Security Resolutions 1540.
The delegation is capitalising on the opportunity to attend the informative and thematic segments that address effective national implementation of the various articles of the Convention, particularly on the industry outreach.
The permanent secretary added that the Fijian Government is committed to addressing chemical security aspect in Fiji and the review of the current CWC Act as one of the priorities for next year. The latter is in line with the Minister for Immigration, National Security and Defence’s maiden speech in Parliament to review the Defence and Security mechanism of Government.
In supporting the promotion of global peace, the Fijian Government will continue to strive for the effective implementation of the Convention even though there are challenges and they are having bilateral with other countries and organizations especially the Organization for the Prohibition of the Chemical Weapons [OPCW].
Mr. Cawaru will hold bilateral talks this weekend with the technical secretariat of the OPCW on possible assistance available to Fiji for the enhancement of implementation support as it fully observe the aspirations of the Convention.