The Hague, 12 May 2003

Timor Leste Joins the Chemical Weapons Convention

Timor Leste deposited its instrument of accession to the Chemical Weapons Convention with the Secretary General of the United Nations on 7 May 2003. Thirty days hence, on 6 June 2003, Timor Leste will become the 152nd State Party to the Convention, and a Member State of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

As a new nation, recognised internationally less than one year ago on 20 May 2002, Timor Leste demonstrates through its ratification of the Convention its commitment to the total elimination of an entire class of weapons of mass destruction, chemical weapons, as well as to the effort to prevent the proliferation of these weapons.

Timor Leste will enjoy the benefits the Organisation affords to all Member States, including: the right to request assistance and protection from its fellow member states should an attack with chemical weapons be threatened or occur, receive expert support in establishing the administrative and legislative measures necessary to meet their obligations under the Convention and to implement the Convention effectively, as well the right to transfer certain chemicals whose transfer to non-Member States is prohibited.

The Chemical Weapons Convention is one of the United Nation’s 25 “core treaties”, which each U.N. Member State is urged to ratify to ensure security for all. In its recently conducted five-year Review Conference from 28 March to 9 May 2003, all States Parties reaffirmed their commitment to abide by and to fully implement the Convention to ensure that chemical weapons are banned completely in perpetuity.

In the past eight months, the Organisation’s membership has been expanded by the accession or ratification of seven new States Parties: Timor Leste, Andorra, Guatemala, Palau, Thailand, Samoa and St Vincent and the Grenadines. The continuing expansion of the membership of the Organisation in all regions of the world confirms the international community’s resolve to achieve the aims of this Convention.