Russia and OPCW Technical Secretariat Conclude Facility Agreement; Destruction of Russia’s Chemical Weapons Stockpile

The Russian Federation and the Technical Secretariat of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) successfully concluded their negotiations on the text of the Detailed Plan for the Verification of Destruction for the chemical weapons stockpile now under verification at the purpose-built chemical weapons destruction facility (CWDF) at Maradykovsky. These verification arrangements are reflected in the text of the Facility Agreement that was likewise negotiated and agreed with the Russian Federation. Both of these documents are now with the Executive Council for its approval.

The Detailed Plan for the Verification of Destruction and the Facility Agreement are the basis for the OPCW Inspectorate’s on-going verification and reporting of the progress of destruction at the Maradykovsky CWDF.

Under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), States that have ratified the treaty —the States Parties— are under obligation to declare, secure and verifiably destroy any stockpiles of chemical weapons, as well as any production capacity to create such weapons. Each State Party also has the obligation to conclude a facility agreement with the Organisation for those facilities that previously produced chemical weapons and for facilities storing or destroying chemical weapons and subject such facilities to OPCW’s on-site inspections. Facility agreements provide for detailed arrangements which govern inspections at each facility. The OPCW Executive Council reviews the plans with a view to approving them, consistent with verification objectives and obligations under the CWC.

PR30 / 2007

Categories: Disarmament, Eastern Europe