DECISION

COSTS OF INSPECTIONS OF ABANDONED CHEMICAL WEAPONS

The Conference

Recalling that the Executive Council had been requested by the Conference of the States Parties at its Third Session to continue addressing the issue of the attribution of the costs related to inspections of old and abandoned chemical weapons, with a view to making appropriate recommendations for a decision to be taken on these matters by the Conference at its Fourth Session;

Recalling the decision of the Executive Council at its Fourteenth Session on the costs of inspections of abandoned chemical weapons (EC-XIV/DEC.2, and subparagraph 4.6 of EC-XIV/2);

Bearing in mind that, pursuant to paragraph 11 of Part IV(B) of the Verification Annex, the Technical Secretariat shall conduct an initial inspection, and any further inspections as may be necessary, in order to verify all available information submitted pursuant to paragraphs
8 to 10 and determine whether systematic verification in accordance with Part IV(A), paragraphs 41 to 43, of that Annex is required;

Taking into account that the Technical Secretariat shall, if necessary, verify the origin of the abandoned chemical weapons and establish evidence concerning the abandonment and the identity of the abandoning State;

Considering that, pursuant to paragraph 15 of Part IV(B), for the purpose of destroying abandoned chemical weapons, the abandoning State Party shall provide all necessary financial, technical, expert, facility as well as other resources and the territorial State Party shall provide appropriate cooperation;

Considering also that, pursuant to paragraph 17 of Part IV(B), Article IV and Part IV(A) shall apply to the destruction of abandoned chemical weapons, taking into account the risk posed to the object and purpose of the Convention and the determination by the Technical Secretariat whether they also meet the definition of old chemical weapons in Article II, paragraph 5(b);

Without prejudice to decisions on other unresolved issues related to old and abandoned chemical weapons;

Hereby:

Decides, with effect from 1 January 1999:

1. that the costs related to verification measures, including initial inspections and any further inspections as provided in paragraph 11 of Part IV(B) of the Verification Annex, for abandoned chemical weapons which have been confirmed by the Technical Secretariat as not meeting the definition of old chemical weapons in Article II, paragraph 5(b), will be attributed to the abandoning State Party;

 

2. that, with regard to abandoned chemical weapons that have been confirmed by the Technical Secretariat as meeting the definition of old chemical weapons in Article II, paragraph 5(b), the costs related to initial inspections and any further inspections as provided in paragraph 11 of Part IV(B) of the Verification Annex will be attributed to the Organisation; the costs of further required verification measures will be attributed to the abandoning State Party; and

 

3. to request the Technical Secretariat to apply, for reimbursement purposes, the criteria contained in the decision of the Conference C-III/DEC.8, dated 17 November 1998.

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