Introduction and Overview

Progress towards universality

2.      By the end of 2001 the membership of the OPCW had grown to 145 States Parties, representing a 67% increase in membership since the entry into force of the Convention in April 1997.  The pace of ratification of the Convention during 2001 was, however, somewhat slower than in previous years, with four new States Parties joining the OPCW in 2001.  As of 31 December 2001, 29 signatory States were yet to ratify the Convention, and 19 other States were yet to accede to it (see annexes
1, 2 and 3 to this report).

Progress toward chemical disarmament and non-proliferation

3.      The year 2001 saw a number of significant milestones relating to the destruction of chemical weapons in all chemical weapons possessor States Parties – India, the Russian Federation, the United States of America, and a fourth State Party.

4.      During 2001 India and the United States of America completed the destruction of 20% of their Category 1 chemical weapons ahead of the Convention’s timeline of 29 April 2002.

5.      The destruction of Category 2 chemical weapons was well underway in 2001 in both India and the Russian Federation.  No Category 2 chemical weapons were declared by the United States of America and the fourth chemical weapons possessor State Party.

6.      India and the Russian Federation also completed the destruction of all their Category 3 chemical weapons in 2001.  Another State Party had completed the destruction of these weapons in 1999.  By the end of 2001 the United States of America had completed the destruction of over 99% of its Category 3 chemical weapons.

7.      In 2001 the OPCW verified the destruction of 957 tonnes of chemical weapons agent contained in 219,592 munitions items and bulk containers and 289,580 unfilled munitions, devices and specifically designed items of equipment in three of the four chemical weapons possessor States Parties.  Chemical weapons destruction took place during 2001 at 10 chemical weapons destruction facilities (CWDFs) which operated during different periods throughout the year: one in India, five in the Russian Federation, and four in the United States of America.  From April 1997 until December 2001 a total of 6,518 metric tonnes of chemical warfare agents contained in 2.1 million munitions/containers, representing about 9.3% of the declared total weight, along with 412,644 unfilled munitions/containers, were destroyed in the four chemical weapons possessor States Parties.

8.      At the same time some of the four chemical weapons possessor States Parties continued to face serious difficulties in meeting some of the Convention’s timelines for the destruction of chemical weapons arsenals.

9.      In October 2001 the Russian Federation submitted to the Executive Council a request for it to recommend to the Conference of the States Parties (hereinafter the “Conference”) to grant an extension to the Russian Federation of the overall deadline for the completion of destruction of its Category 1 chemical weapons to 29 April 2012, and to shift the intermediate deadlines for their destruction.

10.  Technical problems caused a delay in destruction operations in the fourth chemical weapons possessor State Party, which accordingly requested an extension of its obligation to meet the Convention’s requirement to destroy 20% of its Category 1 chemical weapons by 29 April 2002.

11.  No discrepancies in the declared inventories of chemical weapons at chemical weapons storage facilities (CWSFs) were detected during OPCW inspections in 2001.

12.  By the end of the year 2001, 11 States Parties had declared 61 former chemical weapons production facilities (CWPFs) to the OPCW, and the OPCW had confirmed the complete destruction of 27 CWPFs, as well as the completion of conversion of
8 such CWPFs for peaceful purposes. 

13.  By the end of the year all but two States Parties had submitted their initial declarations to the OPCW in accordance with the Convention. Considerable progress was also achieved with regard to the rate of submission of annual declarations. The OPCW continued to inspect chemical industry facilities worldwide, albeit at a level which was lower than the level of inspection activity budgeted for in 2001.  In addition, a separate project aimed at assisting those States Parties in identifying potentially declarable facilities under Article VI was launched in 2001.  Efforts to harmonise, in consultation by the Technical Secretariat (hereinafter the “Secretariat”) with
States Parties, information received from States Parties concerning the export and import of scheduled chemicals were continuing at the end of the period under review.

14.  The financial difficulties during 2001 took a toll on the inspection activities of the OPCW.  Of the 293 inspections budgeted for in 2001, only 200 inspections – representing 68 % of the total budgeted for – were conducted.  Nevertheless, the OPCW ensured the required continuous physical presence of inspectors at all operating CWDFs.  Of the total number of 11,000 inspector days in 2001, 9,400 days, or 85%, were utilised on chemical weapons-related inspections, including the continuous monitoring of the destruction of chemical weapons.  In the period between the start of OPCW inspections in 1997 and the end of 2001, a total of 1,117 inspections were carried out in 50 States Parties.

 

International cooperation and assistance

15.  Despite financial constraints, the Secretariat’s international cooperation activities continued inter alia in the broad areas: capacity-building in States Parties for the peaceful application of chemistry in areas relevant to the implementation of the Convention; and the provision of implementation support for National Authorities.   In addition, the “framework concept” for the provision of assistance under Article X of the Convention was submitted to the Executive Council (hereinafter the “Council”) for review.  The Voluntary Fund for Assistance increased during 2001 by more than 25% (EUR 215,241), to a total of EUR 818,208.

16.  Efforts to achieve consensus on the modalities of the OPCW’s implementation of Article XI of the Convention continued throughout the period under review.

 

Financial situation of the OPCW

The OPCW’s 2001 budget was EUR 60.2 million.  In anticipation of a cash deficit, the Secretariat implemented a reduction in the programme of work, in order to avoid a deficit. The Council on several occasions expressed concern at the failure of some States Parties to comply, in whole or in part, with their obligations to contribute to the costsof the OPCW’s activities.  Regrettably, the cash flow shortage could not be overcome during 2001.

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