The Hague, 2 March 2000
Number 05
 
Press Release

The Federal Republic Of Azerbaijan Ratifies The Convention

The Federal Republic of Azerbaijan ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention on the 29th of February 2000. The Federal Republic of Azerbaijan will become the 131st State Party to the Convention on the 30th of March 2000, thirty days after depositing its instrument of ratification with the Secretary-General of the United Nations in New York.

Membership of the Convention has now more than doubled from the 65 member states that were required to bring it into force. There are now only 60 countries left that have not ratified the CWC, 40 of these have signed the convention.


The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) came into existence on 29 April 1997. Its deed of foundation—the Chemical Weapons Convention—aims to achieve four principal objectives: the elimination of chemical weapons and of the capacity to develop them, the verification of non-proliferation, international assistance and protection in the event of the use or threat of use of chemical weapons, and international cooperation and assistance in the peaceful use of chemistry.

For further information, please contact the Media and Public Affairs Branch at: +31 70 416-3710

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