Thailand and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) will co-organize the 6th OPCW Challenge Inspection (CI) Field Exercise from 31 October to 4 November 2011. This is the first time that a challenge inspection field exercise is held in Asia. Previous exercises were held in Brazil, the United Kingdom, Germany and the Netherlands.
The CI Field Exercise is conducted regularly for OPCW inspectors to ensure that they are well prepared to respond to any request for a challenge inspection under Article IX of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), whereby a CWC State Party alleges another State Party of non-compliance and requests an on-site challenge inspection. The upcoming CI Field Exercise in Thailand will be attended by a group of 25 inspectors who will undertake a simulated challenge inspection at a chemical facility in Thailand.
Mr. Ahmet Uzumcu Director-General of the OPCW, is scheduled to pay a visit to Thailand from 2 to 4 November 2011 as guest of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to observe the conduct of the Exercise and attend the concluding session. Mr. Uzumcu will also take this opportunity to meet with high-level representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Industry on cooperation between Thailand and the OPCW.
In this connection, media members who are interested in interviewing Mr. Ahmet Uzumcu about OPCW’s activities and it cooperation with Thailand on CI. Please contact Ms. Thitiya Panmanee Tel. 0 2203 5000 ext. 22025, email: thitiyap@mfa.go.th and inform your name, news agencies and contact numbers.
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th