University of Rome Tor Vergata and OPCW concluded a cooperation agreement
07.24.2013
On June 20th 2013, the University of Rome Tor Vergata and the OPCW signed a cooperation agreement, under which the OPCW Technical Secretariat will support the University’s Master Courses in protection against Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and explosive (CBRNe) events.
We are therefore proud to announce that the our 1st and 2nd-level Master Courses will take place with the cooperation of the OPCW, besides the support of the Italian Prime Minister’s Office, Ministries of Defence and the Interior, National Health Institute (ISS), as well as specialised European facilities, including the NATO Joint CBRN Defence Coe, Vyskov’s VVU Centre (Czech Republic), the NATO School (Germany), the NBC School of Rieti (Italy), Seibersdorf Laboratories (Austria), the Chornobyl Centre (Ukraine), and Hotzone Solutions Group (The Netherlands); Hotzone Solutions Group will officially cooperate with the Steering Committee and the Scientific Committee of the two Master Courses on coordinating of the international activities and live-agent training.
As it is stated in the OPCW Press Release, “it is the first such agreement the OPCW has signed with a university in this field.
As the world’s only organisation dedicated to the elimination of an entire category of weapons of mass destruction, the OPCW will make available to the course the expertise and knowledge it has developed during 16 years of hands-on experience with destroying chemical weapons and conducting thousands of industry verification inspections.
On the occasion of the agreement signing the OPCW Director-General, Ambassador AhmetÜzümcü, said: “It is only through innovative relationships such as we have concluded with the University of Rome Tor Vergata that we are able to ensure that the OPCW’s knowledge and expertise, so hard won, is disseminated to new generations of professionals dedicated to eliminating weapons of mass destruction.”
While appreciating the role of Prof. Lauro, Rector of the University of Rome Tor Vergata, and Prof. Bellecci, Director of the International Master programme, Ambassador Üzümcü also noted the valuable assistance of the Ambassador of Italy in The Hague, H.E. Mr Azzarello, and his staff in bringing about this agreement.
Article X of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) makes provision for cooperation and assistance among States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention and between States Parties and the OPCW. This important agreement with the University of Rome Tor Vergata, forms an essential element in the building of capacity and expertise to effectively manage incidents involving weapons of mass destruction, and in particular chemical weapons.”
For the full version of the OPCW’s release, please visit: here
