The OPCW – Twenty-Seventh Session of the Executive Council: OPCW Establishes Anti-Terrorism Working Group

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) will have to "adapt to the new type and level of threat of the use of chemical weapons by sub-national terrorist groups, rather than by states or groups of states", OPCW Director-General José M. Bustani asserted in his recent address to the Executive Council. In order to implement its mandate effectively, Mr Bustani continued, "the OPCW needs to rethink past practices and attitudes. What may have been sufficient only a few months ago is not adequate in the present circumstances."

Twenty-seventh Session of the Executive Council.The Hague,4-7 December 2001

The Council, meeting for its Twenty-Seventh Session from 4-7 December 2001 in The Hague, decided to establish a working group to develop recommendations for the Organisation’s contribution to the global anti-terrorism effort. The working group will propose specific measures to the next session of the Council from 19 to 22 March 2002.

In light of the UN Security Council anti-terrorism resolutions 1373 and 1368, the Council stressed the need to focus on achieving universal adherence to the Convention, enacting national implementing legislation, including the criminalisation of the use of chemical weapons, the complete destruction of the declared chemical weapons stockpiles, the effective monitoring of legitimate chemical production and transfers, and ensuring the OPCW’s ability to respond to a request for assistance and protection in the event of the use or the threat of use of chemical weapons.

Notwithstanding the need to expeditiously destroy the declared 70,000 tonnes of chemical weapons, the Council addressed the practical challenges faced by States Parties in completing their destruction programmes within the deadlines stipulated by the Convention. Two States Parties submitted official requests for extensions to the destruction deadline of their chemical weapons. A third State Party informed the Council that its programme of destruction could also potentially be delayed.

The Council Members held differing views as to whether the 2002 budget is sufficient to deliver the programme of work as approved by the Conference of the States Parties in May 2001. The Council nevertheless expressed its concern at a projected cash deficit for 2002 of EUR 6 million. OPCW Director-General, Mr José M. Bustani warned that although the Organisation had been able to maintain 70% of its inspection programme in 2001, even this curtailed level of programme delivery would not be possible in the coming year. Mr Bustani cautioned, "Our meagre reserves have been exhausted ".

The Council decided that consultations on the implementation of the 2002 budget were urgently needed. The consultations should also identify ways to maintain approved programmes.

31/2001

Categories: Executive Council, Terrorism