Asia and the OPCW

Foreword

Asia is a major stakeholder in the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). This publication lists some of the benefits which membership in the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) has brought to States Parties in Asia.

The goal of the OPCW is to free the world of chemical weapons, and 188 countries —including 51 in Asia— have now joined forces to achieve it. This goal is enshrined in the Convention, which entered into force on 29 April 1997.

Since then, 45.56 percent of the declared chemical weapons in the form of munitions have been verifiably destroyed, together with 73.11 percent of the world's declared stockpile of 71,196 metric tonnes of chemical agent. Of the 70 declared former chemical weapons production facilities, 64 have been destroyed or converted for peaceful purposes.

But achieving global chemical disarmament remains a formidable challenge and the threat posed by chemical weapons is still real. They can be more easily produced and stockpiled than other forms of weapons of mass destruction and present a clear danger to all people, especially in areas of conflict. They also pose a particular risk in the hands of terrorists. Ensuring their complete elimination is not a task that can be dealt with only by some; it requires action by the entire international community.

A chemical weapons-free world will only be achieved when all countries join the Convention and implement it fully. The development, production, stockpiling, transfer or use of chemical weapons must be criminalised in every country.

The Convention benefits all nations by eliminating a common threat and enhancing mutual trust. It is non-discriminatory and mandates the OPCW to deliver concrete support to all Member States. Nations that are threatened by chemical attack, or actually suffer such an attack, can call upon the OPCW's assistance and protection.

The OPCW promotes the peaceful uses of chemistry and international cooperation to facilitate the exchange of scientific and technical information among States Parties. These programmes yield real economic benefits.

The OPCW also provides implementation support for States Parties in this region to ensure that the national infrastructure needed to effectively implement the Convention is established. This team effort serves to strengthen both regional and international security and to bolster each State Party's regulatory framework. This work brings real economic benefits as well.

In the Second Review Conference of the Chemical Weapons Convention which took place in April 2008, OPCW Member States comprehensively reviewed the operations of the CWC and provided guidelines for its effective implementation in the future.

We look forward to the continued cooperation of the States Parties in the region in implementing the Convention effectively.

Conference of the States Parties

The Conference of the States Parties is the main policy-making organ of the OPCW. Composed of all Member States, the Conference meets annually as well as in special sessions when necessary.

Iraq and the Islamic Republic of Iran were elected Vice-Chairs of the Conference at its Sixteenth session. Pakistan and Korea are members of the Credentials Committee.

Past Chairpersons of the Conference from Asia were:

Ambassador Minoru Shibuya of Japan (Thirteenth Session, December 2008).
Ambassador Waleed Ben Abdel Karim El Khereiji of Saudi Arabia (Second Review Conference, April 2008);
Ambassador Dato' Noor Farida Ariffin of Malaysia (Eighth Session, October 2003);
Ambassador Young-shik Song of the Republic of Korea (Third Session, November 1998).

Executive Council

The Executive Council is comprised of the representatives of 41 Member States, who are elected by all other OPCW Member States to serve two-year terms. The Executive Council usually meets four times per year, and more frequently in meetings and informal consultations, to take policy decisions that enable the OPCW to function.

Nine Asian States always represent the Asian region on the Executive Council, serving on a rotational basis. One additional State Party is alternately designated by States Parties in the regions of Asia and of Latin America and the Caribbean, serving as a rotating member from these regions.

For the period 12 May 2011 to 11 May 2012, the Asian members of the Council are China, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka.

Past Chairpersons of the Council from Asia were:

Ambassador Romeo A. Arguelles of the Philippines (2007–2008)
Ambassador Lionel Fernando of Sri Lanka (2002–2003)
Ambassador Prabhakar Menon of India, first Chairperson of the Council (1997–1998)

Subsidiary Bodies

China, India, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, the Philippines and the Republic of Korea are also represented on OPCW subsidiary bodies, including the Advisory Body on Administrative and Financial Matters, the Confidentiality Commission, and the Scientific Advisory Board. Pakistan was the External Auditor for a six-year term (2003-2008).

The contribution of the Asian States Parties is reflected in a number of senior posts in the Technical Secretariat that are held by nationals from the region, including the Director of the External Relations division and the Heads of the following branches: Human Resources, Technical Support, Government Relations and Political Affairs, Training and Staff Development, and International Cooperation.

Benefits to Asia from OPCW's International Cooperation and Assistance Programmes

The OPCW has developed a range of programmes to promote international cooperation, implementation support and chemical weapons protection, through extensive consultations with Member States and their National Authorities. These programmes are directly relevant to the needs and priorities of Member States in the region. A general overview of the period from entry into force of the Convention on 29 April 1997 to the present is provided below.

International Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Chemistry

The international-cooperation programmes implemented by the OPCW are based on the provisions of Article XI of the Convention, which relate to the economic and technological development of States Parties. The programmes aim at building skills and capabilities in areas relating to the peaceful application of chemistry, with the focus on integrated chemicals management, chemical-knowledge promotion and exchange, industry outreach, and enhancing analytical capabilities in Member States whose economies are developing.

Since the entry into force of the Convention, the Asian region has generously supported the Organisation's international cooperation programmes with voluntary contributions by the governments of China, Japan, Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia and Thailand. In addition, Asian Member States provide a broad spectrum of other support including logistical services for workshops, seminars and conferences, the replacement of outdated information technology and software, and funding for new training programmes and consultancy services.

As of 31/12/2011, the Asian region has gained from the OPCW’s international cooperation programmes in the following ways (global figures in brackets):

70 analytical chemists trained (of 315)
77 Associate Programme participants (of 265)
430 Conference Support participants (of 1,966)
20 interns (of 115)
53 conferences (of 239)
19 laboratories (of 92)
135 research projects (of 437)
9 transfers of used and functional equipment (of 73)
In total, 813 individual and facility beneficiaries (of 3,502)

Since the entry into force of the Convention, the Asian region has generously supported the Organisation's international cooperation programmes with voluntary contributions by the governments of China, Japan, Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia and Thailand. In addition, Asian Member States provide a broad spectrum of other support including logistical services for workshops, seminars and conferences, the replacement of outdated information technology and software, and funding for new training programmes and consultancy services.

As of 31/12/2011, the Asian region has gained from the OPCW’s international cooperation programmes in the following ways (global figures in brackets):

70 analytical chemists trained (of 315)
77 Associate Programme participants (of 265)
430 Conference Support participants (of 1,966)
20 interns (of 115)
53 conferences (of 239)
19 laboratories (of 92)
135 research projects (of 437)
9 transfers of used and functional equipment (of 73)
In total, 813 individual and facility beneficiaries (of 3,502)

Extracts from the opening statement by the OPCW Director-General to the Executive Council at its most recent session:

The Secretariat and the Republic of Singapore jointly organised the first regional training course on emergency response to chemical incidents for the States Parties from Asia, which was held in Singapore from 2 to 6 March 2009.

Moreover, at the request of the National Authority of Viet Nam, the Secretariat dispatched a team for an initial technical assessment visit to start a project for national capacity building against chemical weapons. The visit was conducted in Hanoi, Viet Nam, from 3 to 5 March.

Implementation Support

The OPCW’s implementation support programmes assist States Parties to meet their obligations under Article VII of the Convention. The areas of support include establishing National Authorities for effective liaison with the OPCW; taking the necessary steps to enact legislation, including penal legislation, and adopt administrative measures to implement the Convention; identifying declarable chemical industry and trade activities; and submitting accurate declarations.

Extracts from the opening statement by the OPCW Director-General to the Executive Council at its most recent session:

A technical assistance visit to the Kingdom of Bhutan on 13 and 14 April was organised with the aim of raising awareness among key stakeholders regarding the national implementing legislation in accordance with the requirements under Article VII of the Convention. This visit was the first in a series to be undertaken by the Technical Secretariat in support of grants made to States Parties under the 2007 European Union Joint Action.

I also wish to inform you that in the area of implementation support, the Technical Secretariat is currently in the advanced stages of preparation for a regional workshop for customs authorities in Asia on the technical aspects of the transfers regime of the Convention, which is to be held in Hong Kong from 10 to 12 June 2009, with the gracious cooperation of the Chinese government and the Hong Kong authorities. Through this workshop, the Technical Secretariat hopes to sensitise senior customs officials to the requirements of the transfer provisions of the Convention and thereby supplement ongoing efforts to train mid-level and operational-level customs officials through the subregional training courses offered in Asia. The workshop will also provide the Technical Secretariat with the opportunity to highlight the need for closer interaction between National Authorities, customs and port authorities to monitor trade in chemicals.

OPCW Events in Asia

Call for Nominations for an Advanced Assistance-and-Protection Course

14 May 2012 — 18 May 2012 | Beijing, China

On behalf of the Government of China and the OPCW, the Director-General wishes to invite Member States to nominate participants for an Advanced Assistance-and-Protection Course, which will take place in Beijing, China, from 14 to 18 May 2012.The cour...

Call for Nominations for the Eighth Regional Assistance-and-Protection Course for Asian States Parties

25 June 2012 — 29 June 2012 | Seoul, Republic of Korea

On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Korea and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the Director-General wishes to invite States Parties in Asia to nominate representatives to participate in the Eighth Regional A...

Call for Nominations for the Tenth Regional Meeting of National Authorities of States Parties in Asia

26 June 2012 — 28 June 2012 | Colombo, Sri Lanka

On behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the Director-General wishes to invite National Authorities to nominate staff to attend the Tenth Regional Meeting of National Authorities of...

More Events

Asian States Parties to the CWC

No.	Member State	Signature	Ratification, accession or succession	Entry into Force
1	Afghanistan	14/01/1993	24/09/2003	24/10/2003
2	Bahrain	24/02/1993	28/04/1997	29/04/1997
3	Bangladesh	14/01/1993	25/04/1997	29/04/1997
4	Bhutan	24/04/1997	18/08/2005	17/09/2005
5	Brunei Darussalam	13/01/1993	28/07/1997	27/08/1997
6	Cambodia	15/01/1993	19/07/2005	18/08/2005
7	China	13/01/1993	25/04/1997	29/04/1997
8	Cook Islands	14/01/1993	15/07/1994	29/04/1997
9	Cyprus	13/01/1993	28/08/1998	27/09/1998
10	Fiji	14/01/1993	20/01/1993	29/04/1997
11	India	14/01/1993	03/09/1996	29/04/1997
12	Indonesia	13/01/1993	12/11/1998	12/12/1998
13	Iran	13/01/1993	03/11/1997	03/12/1997
14	Iraq	_	13/01/2009	12/02/2009
15	Japan	13/01/1993	15/09/1995	29/04/1997
16	Jordan	_	29/10/1997	28/11/1997
17	Kiribati	_	07/09/2000	07/10/2000
18	Kuwait	27/01/1993	29/05/1997	28/06/1997
19	Lao People's Democratic Republic	13/05/1993	25/02/1997	29/04/1997
20	Lebanon	_	20/11/2008	20/12/2008
21	Malaysia	13/01/1993	20/04/2000	20/05/2000
22	Maldives	01/10/1993	31/05/1994	29/04/1997
23	Marshall Islands	13/01/1993	19/05/2004	18/06/2004
24	Micronesia (Federated States of)	13/01/1993	21/06/1999	21/07/1999
25	Mongolia	14/01/1993	17/01/1995	29/04/1997
26	Nauru	13/01/1993	12/11/2001	12/12/2001
27	Nepal	19/01/1993	18/11/1997	18/12/1997
28	Niue	_	21/04/2005	21/05/2005
29	Oman	02/02/1993	08/02/1995	29/04/1997
30	Pakistan	13/01/1993	28/10/1997	27/11/1997
31	Palau	_	03/02/2003	05/03/2003
32	Papua New Guinea	14/01/1993	17/04/1996	29/04/1997
33	Philippines	13/01/1993	11/12/1996	29/04/1997
34	Qatar	01/02/1993	03/09/1997	03/10/1997
35	Republic of Korea	14/01/1993	28/04/1997	29/04/1997
36	Samoa	14/01/1993	27/09/2002	27/10/2002
37	Saudi Arabia	20/01/1993	09/08/1996	29/04/1997
38	Singapore	14/01/1993	21/05/1997	20/06/1997
39	Solomon Islands	_	23/09/2004	23/10/2004
40	Sri Lanka	14/01/1993	19/08/1994	29/04/1997
41	Tajikistan	14/01/1993	11/01/1995	29/04/1997
42	Thailand	14/01/1993	10/12/2002	09/01/2003
43	Timor-Leste	_	07/05/2003	06/06/2003
44	Tonga	_	29/05/2003	28/06/2003
45	Turkmenistan	12/10/1993	29/09/1994	29/04/1997
46	Tuvalu	_	19/01/2004	18/02/2004
47	United Arab Emirates	02/02/1993	28/11/2000	28/12/2000
48	Uzbekistan	24/11/1995	23/07/1996	29/04/1997
49	Vanuatu	_	16/09/2005	16/10/2005
50	Viet Nam	02/01/1998	30/09/1998	30/10/1998
51	Yemen	08/02/1993	02/10/2000	01/11/2000

Asian States that have signed but not ratified the CWC

No.	State	Signature
1	Israel	13/01/1993
2	Myanmar	14/01/1993

Asian States that have not signed or acceded to the CWC

No.	State
1	North Korea
2	Syria

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