Summary of the Fifty-Fourth Session of the Executive Council

The Chairperson of the Executive Council, Ambassador Oksana Tomová of Slovakia, opened its Fifty-Fourth Session in The Hague on 14 October 2008.

The Vice-Chairpersons and coordinators for clusters of issues reported to the Council on informal consultations held during the intersessional period: Ambassador Werner Burkart of Germany on chemical weapons issues; Ambassador Benchaâ Dani of Algeria on chemical-industry and other Article VI issues; Ambassador Francisco José Aguilar-de Beauvilliers Urbina of Costa Rica on administrative and financial issues; and Mr Gholamhossein Dehghani of the Islamic Republic of Iran on legal, organisational, and other issues. The Chairperson also reported on her own activities during the intersessional period, including the activities of the Open-Ended Working Group on Terrorism and the Host Country Committee.

Status of Implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention

Detailed plans for verification of the destruction of chemical weapons

The Council considered and approved amendments to the agreed detailed plan for verification of the destruction of chemical weapons at the Recovered Chemical Weapons Destruction Facility, the United States of America.

The Council considered and approved the agreed detailed plan for verification of the destruction of the Category 1 chemical weapons at the chemical weapons destruction facility (CWDF) located at Shchuchye, Kurganskaya oblast, the Russian Federation.

The Council considered and approved the agreed detailed plan for verification of the destruction of chemical weapons at the Ruwagha Chemicals Reloading System and Rabta Toxic Chemicals Destruction Facility, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya.

Conversion of chemical weapons production facilities

Having noted at its previous session a Note by the Secretariat on the corrections to the general and detailed plans for conversion of the CWPFs Rabta Pharmaceutical Factory 1 and Rabta Pharmaceutical Factory 2, Rabta, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, the Council approved the required corrections to the detailed plans for conversion.

The Council noted the Note by the Director-General on the status of completion of conversion of CWPFs.

 

Progress made in meeting revised deadlines for the destruction of chemical weapons

The Council reaffirmed the obligation of possessor States Parties to destroy their chemical weapons within the extended deadlines, in accordance with the relevant decisions by the Conference of the States Parties at its Eleventh Session, and to that end emphasised the timely commencement of destruction activities at all CWDFs.

The Council noted the Note by the Director-General on the progress made by those States Parties that have been granted extensions of deadlines for the destruction of their Category 1 chemical weapons.

Further to a decision by the Conference at its Eleventh Session (C-11/DEC.12, dated 8 December 2006), the Council considered and noted national papers by A State Party entitled “Report on CW Destruction Activities during the Extension Period” and “Report on the Completion of Destruction of Chemical Weapons Stockpile”.

Further to a decision by the Conference at its Eleventh Session (C-11/DEC.15, dated 8 December 2006), the Council considered and noted a national paper by the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya entitled “Report on the Progress of Destruction of Category 1 and 2 Chemical Weapon Stockpile, Fifth Report”.

Further to a decision by the Conference at its Eleventh Session (C-11/DEC.16, dated 8 December 2006), the Council considered and noted a national paper by India entitled “Report on CW Destruction Activities During the Extension Period after 29 April 2007, 90-day Report (5th)”.

Further to a decision by the Conference at its Eleventh Session (C-11/DEC.17, dated 8 December 2006), the Council considered and noted a national paper by the United States of America entitled “Report to the Executive Council: Destruction Activity as of 30 June 2008, Fifth Report”.

Further to a decision by the Conference at its Eleventh Session (C-11/DEC.18, dated 8 December 2006), the Council considered and noted a national paper by the Russian Federation entitled “Report on CW Destruction Activity at the End of the Current 90 Day Period after 29 April 2007 (as at 30 June 2008)”.

The Council considered and noted the report of the visit by the Chairperson of the Executive Council and representatives of the Executive Council to the Shchuchye CWDF, the Russian Federation, 8 – 11 September 2008. The Council expressed its appreciation for the efforts of the Russian Federation as host, the Chairperson of the Council, and the delegation.

The Council also recalled decision C-11/DEC.20, dated 8 December 2006, and emphasised that these visits shall take place as a means of addressing questions or concerns about a State Party’s programme for fulfilling its obligations on chemical weapons destruction within its extended deadline. The Council requested that reports on visits continue to adequately reflect the questions and concerns raised.

The Council reaffirmed that nothing in visit reports shall in any way affect the obligation of possessor States Parties to destroy all of their Category 1 chemical weapons by the extended deadlines under the terms of the Convention.

Further to a decision by the Council at its Forty-Sixth Session , the Council considered and noted a national paper by China entitled “Report on the Status of the Chemical Weapons Abandoned by Japan in China” . The Council also considered and noted a national paper by Japan entitled “The Report of the Current Status of the ACW Projects in China (Reporting Period: from 1 April to 30 June 2008)”.

Progress made regarding the plan of action on the implementation of Article VII obligations

Further to a decision by the Conference at its Twelfth Session regarding the implementation of Article VII obligations (C 12/DEC.9, dated 9 November 2007), the Council noted a Note by the Director General on the status of implementation of Article VII as at 15 September 2008 , and submitted the report to the Conference for consideration at its Thirteenth Session.

The facilitator on this matter, Mr Saïd Moussi of Algeria, briefed the Council on the consultations held during the intersessional period.

The Council requested the facilitator to continue to conduct the consultations on Article VII implementation with a view to preparing recommendations to the Conference, as appropriate, at its Thirteenth Session.

Status of implementation of Article X

The Council noted a report by the Director-General on the status of implementation of Article X of the Chemical Weapons Convention as at 31 July 2008.

At its Twelfth Session, the Conference requested the Council to conduct intensive deliberations to develop measures for emergency assistance to Member States, including with regard to the victims of chemical weapons, as provided in Article X of the Convention, and to report to the Conference at its Thirteenth Session, along with any appropriate recommendations (paragraph 21.8 of C-12/7, dated 9 November 2007).

In order to implement this request, several rounds of consultations on Article X issues were held.

In the course of these consultations, the Secretariat reported on its state of preparedness to provide emergency assistance to Member States in the case of use or threat of use of chemical weapons.

The Council recommended to continue further intensive deliberations in line with the above mentioned mandate given to it by the Conference at its Twelfth Session (C 12/7).

Status of implementation of Article XI

At its Twelfth Session, the Conference requested the Council, pursuant to previous decisions, to continue its intensive consultations at regular intervals to develop concrete measures within an agreed framework to ensure the full implementation of Article XI, and to report back to the Conference at its Thirteenth Session for consideration (paragraph 3 of C 12/DEC.10, dated 9 November 2007).

The facilitator on this matter, Mr Li Hong of China, briefed the Council on the consultations held during the intersessional period.

The Council took note of a proposal initiated by the delegation of Cuba to convene a workshop to explore ways and means for the full implementation of Article XI, taking into account all the views expressed on this issue during the consultations, and encouraged further deliberations in order to finalise the elaboration of all its aspects, with a view to the realisation of this workshop in 2009.

The Council commended the facilitator for his dedicated work in conducting consultations and encouraged States Parties to intensify their deliberations, and to submit recommendations, as appropriate, to the Conference at its Thirteenth Session.

Progress made in the implementation of the action plan for the universality of the Convention

The Council at its Twenty-Third Meeting adopted an action plan for the universality of the Convention. The plan requested the Director-General, inter alia, to submit to the Conference at its regular sessions an annual report on the implementation of the action plan, and to keep the Council regularly informed, so that the Conference and the Council might review progress and monitor its implementation effectively.

The Council considered and noted the annual report on the implementation of the action plan for the universality of the Chemical Weapons Convention during the period from 3 September 2007 to 25 September 2008 (which was submitted to it and the Conference).

The facilitator on this matter, Mr Lee Litman of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, briefed the Council on the consultations held during the intersessional period. The Council requested the facilitator to continue to conduct the consultations on universality in accordance with the decision of the Conference at its Twelfth Session (C 12/DEC.11, dated 9 November 2007).

Facility agreements

The Council considered and approved a facility agreement with the Russian Federation regarding on-site inspections at the CWDF located at Shchuchye, Kurganskaya oblast.

The Council considered and approved a facility agreement with the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya regarding on-site inspections at the Ruwagha Chemicals Reloading System and Rabta Toxic Chemicals Destruction Facility.

Revisions to the specifications for two items of approved inspection equipment

The Council considered a Note by the Director-General on revisions to the specifications for two items of approved inspection equipment, and approved the revisions proposed.

Industry Cluster issues, including enhancement of OCPF declarations

The Council welcomed the appointment of Mr Marthinus van Schalkwyk of South Africa and Mr Giuseppe Cornacchia of Italy as facilitators on the topics of “Enhancement of OCPF declarations” and “Low concentration of Schedule 2A and 2A* chemicals”, respectively.

Reaffirming the importance of resolving other outstanding issues under the Industry Cluster, the Council further highlighted the importance of early appointment of facilitators on the other outstanding issues under the Cluster, in particular “OCPF site selection methodology” and “frequency and distribution of inspections”, and to further undertake consultations on these issues as a matter of priority.

Report by the Director-General on the readiness of the Secretariat to conduct a challenge inspection

The Council noted a Note by the Director-General on the update on the Technical Secretariat’s readiness to conduct a challenge inspection.

The Council recalled the importance of resolving outstanding issues related to challenge inspections, and requested States Parties to resume intersessional consultations on these issues.

OPCW Central Analytical Database

The Council considered a Note by the Director-General on the list of approved data recommended for removal from the OPCW Central Analytical Database and approved a draft decision on the removal.

Implementation of the Programme for Africa

The Council welcomed the positive steps that the Secretariat is undertaking on the implementation of the Programme for Africa. In this regard, the Council noted that the African States Parties had expressed their appreciation to donor States Parties for their voluntary contributions and encouraged further voluntary contributions through the Programme for Africa.

The Council agreed to adjust accordingly the title of agenda item nineteen of the provisional agenda for the Thirteenth Session of the Conference, which was drawn up by the Council at its Fifty-Third Session (C-13/1, dated 26 June 2008).

Administrative and financial matters

The Director-General submitted the Draft Programme and Budget for 2009 to the Council at its previous Session in accordance with Financial Regulation 3.4 , together with a related draft decision. The Council received an oral report from the facilitator, Mr Martin Strub of Switzerland, on the progress made during consultations on the matter, and decided to consider it further at a Meeting to be convened prior to the Conference at its Thirteenth Session.

The Council also considered the Medium-Term Plan for the period from 2009 to 2011, and decided to consider it further at a Meeting to be convened prior to the Conference at its Thirteenth Session.

The Council noted the Note by the Director-General on guidelines for voluntary contributions and trust funds.

The Council noted a Note by the Secretariat on the status of implementation of the recommendations of the External Auditor.

Further to its consideration of this issue at its Fifty-Third Session, the Council considered and noted the report of the Twenty-Fourth Session of the ABAF, which took place from 2 to 5 June 2008 (ABAF 24/1, dated 5 June 2008), and the Note by the Director General containing the response to the recommendations made by the ABAF at that session .

The Council considered and noted the report of the Twenty-Fifth Session of the ABAF, which took place from 1 to 4 September 2008 (ABAF-25/1, dated 4 September 2008), and the Note by the Director General containing his comments on that report .

The Council noted the resignations from the ABAF of Ms Libuse Pechata, Mr Dong Gy Lee, and Mr Vijai Sharma.

The Council considered the nominations to the ABAF of Mr Milan Kerber, Ms Su Jin Cho, Mr Saïd Moussi, Ms Khadija Yusuf, Mr El Mostafa Trifaia, Mr Marthinus van Schalkwyk, and Mr Rajive Kumar, and in light of the additional information requested by the Council from the Secretariat, decided to consider the matter further at its next regular session.

Report of the Scientific Advisory Board

Further to its consideration of this issue at its previous sessions, the Council noted the report of the Eleventh Session of the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) (SAB 11/1, dated 13 February 2008 and Corr.1, dated 5 March 2008).

Further to its consideration of this issue at its previous sessions, the Council noted the Note by the Director-General in response to the report of the Eleventh Session of the SAB.

Agreement on the privileges and immunities of the OPCW

The Council considered and concluded an agreement between the OPCW and the Commonwealth of Dominica on the privileges and immunities of the OPCW (EC 54/DEC.8, dated 15 October 2008).

 

 

Adoption of the report

The Council considered and adopted the report of its Fifty-Fourth Session.

The Chairperson closed the Session on 23:59 17 October 2008.

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Categories: Assistance and Protection, Disarmament, Executive Council, International Cooperation, National implementation, Non-proliferation of chemical weapons