PR61: Samoa Ratifies the CWC

The Hague, 03 October 2002			Number 61

Press Release

Samoa Ratifies the CWC

	e-mail this article
	printer-version copy

Samoa deposited its instrument of ratification of the Chemical Weapons Convention with the United Nations Secretary-General on 27 September 2002.

Samoa is the second state to have ratified the Convention during the month of September, following the earlier ratification of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Samoa will become the 147th State Party to the Convention on 27 October 2002, thirty days after the deposit of its instrument of ratification.

It is hoped that these two recent ratifications will encourage the few remaining States not Party in both the Pacific and Caribbean regions to expedite their ratification of and accession to the Convention.

The number of signatory States—those that have signed the Convention, but which have yet to ratify it—has now been reduced to 27.

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 70 416-3300,

or e-mail to: media@opcw.org

Media and Public Affairs Branch
OPCW Technical Secretariat, Johan de Wittlaan 32, 2517 JR The Hague, The Netherlands

***FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA – NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD***

Media and Public Affairs, External Relations Division
©2002 OPCW. All rights reserved.