| |
States urged to work toward
world free of chemical weapons
United Nations—Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on States to
redouble their efforts to eliminate chemical weapons, in a message
to a gathering of parties to the global treaty banning these
instruments of mass destruction.
Countries that have ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention are
meeting in The Hague in the Netherlands to review operation of the
treaty, which entered into force on 29 April 1997 and enjoys
near-universal membership with 183 States Parties.
“Our efforts to build a world free of chemical weapons require that
all States Parties adopt, enhance and strengthen the national
implementation measures called for under the Convention,” Ban told
the gathering, in a message delivered by Tim Caughley, Deputy
Secretary-General of the Conference on Disarmament.
All States Parties have the obligation to destroy their existing
chemical weapons and production facilities, the Secretary-General
noted. In addition, the possessor States are required to destroy
their stockpiles completely before the final deadline of 29 April
2012.
“I call on all possessor States, whether their stockpiles are large
or small, to fulfil this solemn obligation,” he said.
Describing the treaty’s impact as “momentous,” Ban pointed out that
some 27,000 tonnes of chemical weapon agents have been destroyed, as
well as 2.9 million chemical munitions and containers.
Pledging the UN’s support to promote universal adherence to the
Convention and its implementation, he called on those States that
have not yet done so to ratify or accede to the treaty as soon as
possible.
Formally known as the Convention on the Prohibition of the
Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and
on Their Destruction, the treaty aims to eliminate an entire
category of weapons of mass destruction by prohibiting the
development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, retention,
transfer or use of these arms by States Parties. —APP
|
