DECISION

REQUEST BY THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

FOR AN EXTENSION OF ITS OBLIGATION TO MEET AN

INTERMEDIATE DEADLINE FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF 1 PERCENT OF

ITS CATEGORY I CHEMICAL WEAPONS STOCKPILES

IN ACCORDANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 22 OF PART IV(A) OF THE

VERIFICATION ANNEX TO THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION

The Conference of the States Parties

Recognising that under Article I of the Chemical Weapons Convention, each State Party undertakes to destroy chemical weapons it owns or possesses;

Confirming that in accordance with paragraph 6 of Article IV of the Convention, each State Party shall destroy all chemical weapons pursuant to the Verification Annex and in accordance with the agreed rate and sequence of destruction;

Further recognising that in accordance with paragraph 22 of Part IV(A) of the Verification Annex, if a State Party believes that it will be unable to ensure the destruction of the percentage of Category 1 chemical weapons required by an intermediate destruction deadline, it may request the Executive Council to recommend to the Conference of the States Parties to grant an extension of its obligation to meet that deadline;

Reaffirming that in accordance with paragraph 23 of Part IV(A) of the Verification Annex, the Russian Federation is still under the obligation to meet the cumulative destruction requirements set forth for the next destruction deadline, and that extensions of intermediate deadlines for the destruction of its Category 1 chemical weapons stockpiles shall not modify its obligation to destroy all Category 1 chemical weapons not later than 10 years after the entry into force of the Convention;

Having considered the request by the Russian Federation for an extension of its obligation to meet an intermediate deadline for the destruction of 1 percent of its Category 1 chemical weapons stockpiles in accordance with paragraph 22 Part IV(A) of the Verification Annex (EC-XVII/1/Add.2, dated 1 November 1999), which contains a detailed explanation of the reasons for the request and significant additional information on the plans presented by the Russian Federation for the destruction of its chemical weapons stockpiles;

Noting that the Executive Council, at its Nineteenth Session, adopted a decision recommending that the Conference approve this request by the Russian Federation (EC-XIX/DEC.6, dated 7 April 2000);

Hereby:

Decides to grant an extension to the Russian Federation’s obligation to meet an intermediate deadline for the destruction of 1 percent of its Category 1 chemical weapons stockpiles on the understanding that:

1. the Russian Federation will complete the destruction of 1 percent of its Category 1 chemical weapons stockpiles before the end of the time frame provided for by the Convention for the completion of Phase 2 of the destruction of its Category 1 chemical weapons stockpiles;

 

2. the Executive Council, at each alternate regular session, will be kept informed by the Russian Federation on the status of its plans, with supporting documentation, towards implementing this destruction obligation;

 

3. the Director-General will report periodically to the Council on the progress made by the Russian Federation in the destruction of its chemical weapons, in accordance with its obligations under the Convention; and

 

4. the Chairman of the Executive Council, in the exercise of his competencies and in cooperation with the Director-General, will report periodically to the Council on these matters.

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