Seoul, Republic of Korea, 3 September 2026 – The Cook Islands has joined States Parties from across Asia to strengthen regional cooperation in support of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
Ms Tatryanna Utanga, Foreign Service Officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, represented the Cook Islands at the 24th Regional Meeting of National Authorities of States Parties in Asia, held in Seoul from 1 to 3 September 2026.
Convened by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the meeting provided a forum for States Parties to share national experiences, discuss regional priorities and identify practical ways to support the continued implementation of the Convention.
Discussions covered national legislation, declaration and inspection requirements, capacity-building opportunities and cooperation among National Authorities. Participants also considered the opportunities and challenges that emerging technologies may present for the implementation of the Convention.
The Cook Islands contributed to a panel discussion on subregional cooperation, sharing the experience of very small administrations where responsibilities may be spread across several government agencies. Effective coordination, access to specialist training and the retention of institutional knowledge were identified as important to meeting Convention obligations over the long term.
“These meetings give us the opportunity to sit alongside Pacific and Asian partners, compare how we are approaching the same obligations in very different national circumstances, and identify practical solutions that can work for a very small administration like ours,” Ms Utanga said.
Participation in the meeting provides the Cook Islands with access to international expertise, technical assistance and training that can support the work of relevant national agencies, including Customs, the National Environment Service, Police, Health and emergency management.
MFAI serves as the Cook Islands National Authority under the Convention and coordinates the country’s engagement with the OPCW. The outcomes of the meeting will support continued coordination across relevant agencies and help ensure the Cook Islands remains well placed to meet its obligations under the Convention.
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