Vol.
25 No. 4
July - August 2003
Chemical
Weapons Convention - First Major Review Completed
In 2002,
IUPAC organized a workshop and later prepared and published
a technical report on the Impact of Scientific Developments
on the Chemical Weapons Convention. The timing of that project
was planned to ultimately coincide with the first quinquennial
review of the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention. IUPAC Secretary
General E. D. Becker and Vice President L. Sydnes represented
the Union, which had an observer status at the Review Conference
held in late April–early May 2003.
Edwin D. Becker <[email protected]>
has been IUPAC secretary general since 1996 and has been a
member a various IUPAC bodies for 30 years. He is presently
a scientist emeritus at the National Institutes of Health,
Bethesda, MD, USA.
by
Edwin D. Becker
Delegates
from the 151 States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention
(CWC) assembled in The Hague, Netherlands, for two weeks (April
28 to May 9) to review the first six years of this treaty
that is "determined for the sake of all mankind, to exclude
completely the possibility of the use of chemical weapons."
Also present were observers from about 20 non-government organizations,
including IUPAC.
The
Review Conference addressed questions regarding the timely
destruction of all declared chemical weapons, implementation
by States Parties of legislation to make any breach of the
Convention a crime, more resource-efficient means to stem
the proliferation of chemical weapons, and ways to enhance
the peaceful uses of chemicals among States Parties.
The
conference provided a strong reaffirmation of the importance
of the treaty. Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter, director general
of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
(OPCW) stated, "Let us convey the message loud and clear
that in the fight against weapons of mass destruction the
overwhelming majority of the international community stands
firmly united behind the Chemical Weapons Convention."
Underlying
the discussions was the recognition that advances in science
and technology will materially affect future implementation
of the treaty—a point that IUPAC has emphasized in its
report to OPCW and the States Parties (see article on page
10). In opening addresses at plenary sessions, several delegates
referred to scientific and technological issues. Ambassador
Priscilla Jana (South Africa) said, "We are satisfied
with the report of IUPAC on the impact of scientific developments
on the Chemical Weapons Convention. Among its conclusions,
this report states that although newer technologies, such
as the advances in biomolecular science and in chemical synthesis,
must be under regular review, they do not materially change
the situation regarding the risks to the Convention by toxic
chemicals that are not listed in the Schedules." Other
delegates pointed out informally that the report by IUPAC
was the first by an international scientific organization
to address such issues for any of the several international
arms control treaties.
The
CWC entered into force in 1997 and mandated the OPCW to eliminate
chemical weapons forever. OPCW inspectors monitor and verify
the destruction of all declared chemical weapons and the destruction
or conversion of all declared chemical weapons production
facilities. The OPCW monitors global chemical industry to
ensure that no new chemical weapons are produced, and it promotes
the peaceful uses of chemistry. Each Member State has the
right to receive assistance and protection from OPCW if threatened
by or attacked with chemical weapons.
The
CWC now serves over 90% of the global population, and over
98% of global chemical industry is subject to its verification
regime. Five States Parties have declared—and are obligated
to destroy—over 70 000 metric tons of chemical warfare
agent filled into 8.6 million munitions and containers. These
chemical weapons have been entirely inventoried and are re-inspected
systematically to provide confidence that there has been no
loss or diversion of these weapons awaiting destruction. Over
10% of chemical warfare agents and over 25% of the munitions
containing these agents have already been destroyed under
continuous verification by OPCW.
Progress
in the destruction of global chemical weapons production capacity
has also been significant. All declared chemical weapons production
facilities have been deactivated. Over two-thirds of the declared
chemical weapons production plants have either been destroyed
or converted to peaceful purposes. In the past six years,
over 880 inspections have been undertaken at more than 160
chemical weapons related sites around the world. In addition,
since 1997, the OPCW has conducted a total of over 550 inspections
at over 445 industrial facilities on the territory of 52 States
Parties.
Further
information on the CWC is available at <www.opcw.org>.
continued
>
Edwin
D. Becker <[email protected]>
has been secretary general since 1996 and has been a member
of various IUPAC bodies for 30 years. He is presently a scientist
emeritus at the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland,
USA.
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last modified 30 June 2003.
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