The Hague, 14 January 2004

Libya Joins the Chemical Weapons Convention

Libya deposited its instrument of accession to the Chemical Weapons Convention with the Secretary General of the United Nations on 6 January 2004.

On 5 February 2004, thirty days after the deposit of its instrument of accession, Libya will become the 159th State Party to the Convention.

On behalf of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, OPCW Director-General, Rogelio Pfirter, welcomes Libya’s decision to join the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) as a positive step that can help strengthen global and regional efforts to prevent the spread and use of weapons of mass destruction.

The OPCW expects to be working closely with the Libyan Government on the legal and practical implications of Libya’s accession to the Convention, including the obligation to declare and destroy any existing chemical weapons and to prevent their future production.