C-IV/DEC.22

	OPCW	Conference of the States Parties
Fourth Session			C-IV/DEC.22
28 June - 2 July 1999				2 July 1999
Agenda Item 18				Original: ENGLISH

RECOMMENDATION ON ENSURING THE UNIVERSALITY

OF THE CONVENTION

The Conference

Recalling its previous recommendations of the Second and Third Sessions of the Conference of the States Parties (C-II/DEC.11, dated 5 December 1997 and C-III/DEC.9, dated
20 November 1998), adopted by consensus, which stressed the crucial importance of universality to all States Parties, especially to states with serious security concerns;

Recalling also resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly which stressed the importance of achieving the universality of the Convention;

Welcoming that since the adoption of the above recommendation, 5 additional states have ratified the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction (CWC);

Recognising that effective universal achievement of the goals of the Convention would require the inclusion, among States Parties, of those states whose non-accession to the Convention causes serious concern;

Recognising that, among the common objectives of the Convention, the security assurances stipulated in the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and international cooperation in the field of chemical activities for purposes not prohibited under the Convention could facilitate and encourage further adherence to the CWC, thus realising the universality of the CWC;

Determined to achieve the full and effective implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction;

Reaffirming also the vital and essential importance of universal adherence to the Convention for the realisation of its ultimate goal of a world free from chemical weapons;

Hereby:

1. Urges all states which have neither ratified nor acceded to the Convention to do so without delay;

2. Recommends that States Parties and the Director-General continue to make every effort to encourage all states, in particular those states believed to possess chemical weapons, which have neither ratified nor acceded to the Convention to do so as soon as possible;

3. Encourages States Parties to promote the achievement of the common objectives of the Convention in order to create a cooperative atmosphere which could encourage other countries to join the CWC;

4. Requests the Director-General to submit to the Conference of the States Parties to the Convention at its Fifth Session a report on the implementation of the present recommendation;

5. Decides to include in the Provisional Agenda of its Fifth Session the item entitled "Ensuring Universality of the Convention".

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