The Hague, 29 April 2003

The First Chemical Weapons Convention Review Conference Commences

The Chemical Weapons Convention is the first multilateral disarmament treaty that verifiably bans and eliminates an entire class of weapons of mass destruction, chemical weapons.

Now entering its seventh year in force, the 151 countries that have joined the treaty, the States Parties, will review the operation of Convention at the Review Conference in The Hague from 28 April to 9 May 2003, the first such review since the Convention was opened for signature in Paris in January 1993.

The primary issues that the States Parties will examine include: the timely destruction of all declared chemical weapons, ensuring that all States Parties have implemented legislation to make any breach of the Convention a crime, while providing for the means to enforce such a national prohibition, as well as considering more resource-efficient means to stem the proliferation of chemical weapons.

In addition, States Parties will consider how best to effectively respond to requests for assistance and protection on the part of States Parties that have been threatened by chemical weapons attack or have suffered such an attack, and how to enhance the peaceful uses of chemicals and facilitate the legitimate exchange of chemicals, equipment and scientific information between States Parties.

On the occasion of the First Chemical Weapons Convention Review Conference, OPCW Director-General, Mr Rogelio Pfirter, stated, “Let us convey the message loud and clear that in the fight against weapons of mass destruction the overwhelming majority of the international community stands firmly united behind the Chemical Weapons Convention.”