The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro has coordinated the activities of the intersectoral Working group for forming the National team of Montenegro for the prohibition of chemical weapons. The Government of Montenegro adopted the decision on forming the National team of Montenegro for the prohibition of chemical weapons at its session held on 5 April 2008 and appointed its members from the competent institutions of Montenegro.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs submitted to the OPCW Technical Secretariat the Initial declaration on 28 September 2007, which was enclosed by the Report on the condition of the national criminal legislation that provides for consistent implementation of the Convention on the prohibition of chemical weapons, as well as the Report on the current trade-related measures that are in accordance with the mentioned Convention. The Initial declaration represents the basis for the cooperation of the state members with the Organization and contains general data with respect to the possession, use and transport of chemical weapons in the country. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs submitted the Report on national programmes of the protection against chemical weapons on 11 October 2007 in accordance with paragraph 4 Article X of the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

The permanent representative of Montenegro in EU Slavica Milačić submitted the accreditation letter on 12 November 2007 to the OPCW Director General. Therefore, Montenegro has also established Permanent Representative Office of Montenegro at OPCW.

The delegation of Montenegro actively participated at 12th session of the Conference of the State Parties to the OPCW that was held in Hague on 5-9 November 2007.

Regional meeting of the representatives of the Participating States to the Stabilization and Association Process included in the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina organized the meeting of the representatives of the Participating States to the Stabilization and Association Process included in the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in Sarajevo on 18 October 2007. The objective of the regional meeting was to exchange the experience in the area of border and customs control of import, export and transit of the chemicals under the regime of the Convention. A significant contribution to the strengthening of regional and global security is provided through enhancement of  mutual cooperation in the implementation of the Convention.

The participants of the meeting adopted the conclusions necessary to set up mutual border crossings that will serve, for the purpose of appropriate customs and other control, for goods and substances mentioned in the Convention. In addition, since the issue of technical capability is one of the critical points forc ountries in the region, it was established that mutual project of improvement of capacities in this area should be prepared. Such regional approach would facilitate obtaining assistance and support from both OPCW Technical Secretariat and the European Union.

Since the completion of this project is very important for Montenegro, an agreement was reached at the level of the National team of Montenegro that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior Affairs and Public Administration would make the preparations and coordinate all the activities related to organization of a two-day regional meeting. This meeting was held in Podgorica on 13-14 February 2008, and the progress made with respect to the determining mutual border crossings was discussed. The meeting confirmed that special attention should be paid to the existing border crossing equipment, during the settlement of the remaining disputed mutual crossings, as well as on the perspective for their equipment. The participants agreed that the manner and communication channels required for realization of the conclusions that will be adopted at the Second meeting should be precisely determined. In that respect, it was decided that the role of the coordinator should be posed on the chairmanship of the Second meeting, i.e. the National team for the prohibition of chemical weapons of Montenegro until the following meeting that is to be the continuance of the initiated process.

One of the objectives of the Meeting was also the exchange of experience in the implementation of the Convention through both development of the legislative framework and reception of the inspection teams of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. The similarity of the legal systems and legal inheritance that is mutual to the majority of the participants of the Meeting greatly facilitates the comparison of legal and other solutions. Moreover, the delegations presented their experience in the area of the inspection oversight within this item of the agenda.