The Hague, 22 February 2001
Number 06
 
Press Release

Dominica Ratifies the Chemical Weapons Convention

The Director- General of the OPCW, Mr. José Bustani, today welcomed the ratification of the Chemical Weapons Convention by Dominica on 12 February 2001.

Dominica is the second member, after St. Lucia, from the Organisation for Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to join the Convention. It is hoped that Dominica’s ratification will encourage other members of the OECS and the broader Caribbean Community (CARICOM) which have yet to ratify or accede to the Convention to follow suit.

Dominica will become the 143rd State Party to the Convention on 14 March 2001, thirty days after the deposit of its instrument of ratification with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The number of signatory States-those which have signed the Convention, but which have yet to ratify it-stands at 31.


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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Media and Public Affairs, External Relations Division
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