The OPCW’s Role in Combating Terrorism

In the wake of the horrific terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, the Executive Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) considered, at the initiative of the OPCW Director-General, Ambassador José M. Bustani, the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) within the context of global efforts to combat all forms of terrorism, including chemical terrorism. The Council, in a statement read by its Chairman, Ambassador Abdel Halim Babu Fatih of Sudan, expressed its heartfelt condolences to the victims of those attacks and to their families, as well as to the people and Government of the United States of America.

The Executive Council unequivocally condemns the terrorist attacks, which took place on 11 September 2001 in the United States. The CWC embodies the determination of 143 States Parties to exclude completely the possibility of the use of chemical weapons. Further, the 41-nation Executive Council is convinced that the effective and comprehensive implementation of the CWC would contribute to the reduction of the threat of chemical terrorism, thus assisting global efforts to combat all forms of terrorism.

The Council appeals to all States Parties to redouble their efforts to ensure the universality of the Convention, so that, in the words of the OPCW Director-General Bustani, "no safe haven could harbour terrorists contemplating the use of chemical weapons". The Council also urged Member States to comply fully with their obligations under the CWC, including the destruction of chemical weapons, the prevention of the diversion and illegal use of chemicals and chemical technologies.

The Council urges the States Parties to develop further means and measures to provide legislative support and assistance to States Parties in the enacting of enforceable, national legal provisions for the effective implementation of the Convention, which prohibits any natural or legal persons anywhere on their territory from undertaking any activity prohibited under the CWC.

Other measures to combat chemical terrorism include: encouraging the further development of activities providing assistance and protection in the event of the use or threat of use of chemical weapons, support to States Parties to facilitate the implementation of the Convention at the national level and an appeal to States Parties to further expand and detail their undertakings to provide assistance through the Organisation in accordance with Article X of the Convention.

The statement, reflecting the sense of the Council, will be communicated to the United Nations General Assembly and to the UN Security Council.

21/2001

Categories: Assistance and Protection, Executive Council, Terrorism