The Chemical Weapons Convention Enters Into Force in Libya, Thursday + UPDATES

2004-02-04 | Libya announced its renunciation of all weapons of mass destruction, including chemical weapons, on 18 December 2003. Subsequently, the Libyan Government deposited its instrument of accession to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) with the United Nations on 6 January 2004. As foreseen by the Convention, thirty days later, on 5 February 2004, the CWC will enter into force for Libya and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) will be legally empowered on that day to begin the on-site verification of Libya’s compliance with the chemical weapons ban. From 5 February 2004, Libya will begin to meet in full its obligations under this international disarmament and nonproliferation treaty. In response to the Libyan Government’s request for technical support, an OPCW team of experts will be working closely with Libyan officials to ensure the effective and comprehensive implementation of the chemical weapons ban. As foreseen by the CWC, Libya’s obligations under the Convention include: establishing a National Authority and points of entry to facilitate, among other administrative duties, the requisite chemical weapons-related & industrial inspections; drafting and enacting national legislation to implement the Convention and make any breach of the Convention committed on the territory of Libya or by a Libyan national a crime punishable under domestic law. The OPCW’s international inspectors will be verifying on-site Libya’s compliance with the CWC’s disarmament and non-proliferation obligations, including: ° Verifying Libya’s comprehensive initial declaration of any chemical weapons, past and present chemical weapons-related activities, as well as of any industrial activities or sites, subject to reporting; ° Inactivating, and subsequently eliminating any chemical weapons production capacity; ° Securing any chemical weapons prior to their destruction; ° Destroying any chemical weapons; ° Ensuring the non-diversion of chemicals for activities prohibited under the Convention, as well as reporting any transfers and abiding by transfer restrictions of CWC-listed chemicals. The OPCW welcomes Libya’s sovereign and voluntary decision to join the other 158 States party to the Chemical Weapons Convention as a positive step that significantly enhances its own national, as well regional and collective security. Libya will enjoy as a Member State of the OPCW the collective protection against chemical weapons afforded by the Convention. OPCW Director-General Rogelio Pfirter commented upon the expected entry into force of the Convention in Libya, noting, “Libya’s historic initiative is a decision of signal importance, which, hopefully, will serve to guide and encourage other States to follow suit. The OPCW stands ready to provide any assistance and support necessary to ensure that the chemical weapons ban is fully implemented in Libya and globally. This treaty benefits all States and this Organisation will spare no effort to include every State under its protection." For further information, please contact the Media and Public Affairs Branch at: media@opcw.org Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) http://www.opcw.org UPDATES OPCW TEAM VISITS LIBYA As of 5 February 2004, the Chemical Weapons Convention has entered into force in Libya. In response to the Libyan Government’s request for technical support, a team of experts from the Technical Secretariat of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) led by OPCW Director-General Rogelio Pfirter is now working closely with senior Libyan Government officials in Tripoli to ensure the effective and comprehensive implementation of the chemical weapons ban. Mr Pfirter met with the Secretary of the General People's Committee for Foreign Liaison and International Cooperation of the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, H.E. Abd al-Rahman Shalgam, who emphasized in his discussion with Mr Pfirter that "Libya is committed to the full and effective implementation of the Convention on Libyan territory. Libya intends to comply with this Convention in the spirit of complete transparency." OPCW Director-General Rogelio Pfirter reiterated in his discussion with H.E. Mr Shalgam the Organisation’s active support for Libya’s "farsighted and courageous decision to join the international community in upholding the ban on chemical weapons. All of the OPCW’s Member States are committed to the elimination of an entire category of weapons of mass destruction under the Organisation’s international verification." On behalf of the Organisation’s Member States, OPCW Director General Pfirter extended to the Libyan Government "the congratulations of all Member States for this decision, which significantly enhances international peace and security. Libya’s elimination of these weapons under international verification should serve as an example to all States that have not yet joined the Convention to follow suit without delay." An initial round of technical discussions was held between Libyan Government officials from the relevant agencies, dealing with chemical weapons-related matters, and the OPCW’s experts, during which an initial assessment of the chemical weapons stockpiles and related aspects of their programme was provided. The Libyan authorities informed OPCW Director General Pfirter that a National Committee for cooperation and liaison with the OPCW has been formed to coordinate the Libyan Government’s efforts to meet its Convention-related obligations, including submitting an initial declaration of all chemical weapons and production capability and to establish procedures to facilitate OPCW inspections. The Chemical Weapons Convention is the international treaty that binds both States party to the Convention and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to ensure that all chemical weapons are eliminated. To preclude the possibility of their re-emergence, the OPCW’s international inspectors verify that the treaty is implemented in full. Since the Convention’s entry into force, the OPCW’s inspectors have conducted in total over 1,600 inspections at chemical-weapons related and industrial sites on the territory of 59 States Parties. 159 States have joined the Convention. The Organisation’s verification regime includes 98% of global chemical industry within its jurisdiction. The OPCW aims to achieve four principal objectives: to eliminate chemical weapons and to prevent their re-emergence, to implement a credible non-proliferation regime, to provide international assistance and protection in the event of the use, or threat of use, of chemical weapons, and to promote international cooperation in the peaceful use of chemistry. For information -- not an official record. Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) http://www.opcw.org