The Hague, 29 April 2002

Today, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) marked the fifth anniversary of the entry into force of the Chemical Weapons Convention (Convention). When the Convention entered into force, on 29 April 1997, it had been ratified by 87 countries. Today the OPCW has 145 Member States.

An additional 29 States have signed the Convention, but have yet to ratify it. The OPCW is waiting to welcome these states into the Organisation, along with the 19 countries that have not yet legally committed themselves to the Convention. The Convention is a unique instrument of multilateral non-proliferation and disarmament, designed to eliminate chemical weapons worldwide.

The Convention has made significant contributions to worldwide efforts towards chemical disarmament. The first five years since it entered into force have seen many positive global developments in the destruction of chemical weapons stockpiles and the elimination of chemical weapons production facilities. A stringent and balanced verification regime has been put into place.

The OPCW has also established programmes for the provision of assistance and protection to States Parties, as well as programmes to facilitate international cooperation in the peaceful uses of chemistry. The OPCW is now working to ensure the successful outcome of the first major international conference to review the implementation of the Convention in the period since it entered into force. This review conference is currently planned for April 2003.