Упрощенная HTML-версия
Author : Yu. Belobrov
Candidate of Science (Political Science), senior research associate, Institute of Current International Prob-
lems, Diplomatic Academy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
THE CONVENTION on the Prohibition of the Develop-
ment, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons
and on their Destruction (Chemical Weapons Convention or
CWC) has become nearly equal in terms of universality to the
Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (Non-
Proliferation Treaty or NPT) in a comparatively short period of
16 years.
This is the result of persistent efforts by CWC signatory states,
the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
(OPCW), and the United Nations.
Altogether 190 nations are parties to the CWC.
The CWC is a unique multilateral agreement whose signatories
have absolutely equal rights and an accord that bans a whole class of weapons of mass
destruction in a non-discriminatory and verifiable way, and under strict and effective con-
trol.
In this connection, it is remarkable that the CWC includes provisions that can be seen as
stimuli for participation in the convention. For instance, it limits trade in chemicals with
non-participants. There are three lists of chemicals whose sale to non-participants is pro-
hibited.
Moreover, the CWC grants the member states the right to seek assistance and defense in
the event of use, or threat of use, of chemical weapons against them.
It is also very important that the convention makes provision for exchanges of chemicals,
equipment, and scientific and technological information between participants.
Since the CWC came into force in 1997, significant progress has been made toward the
universality of the convention as a disarmament document, which means that a world free
from all chemical weapons is a closer prospect today. It is an important move that the
Syrian Arab Republic has joined the CWC and that all of Syria's components and precur-
sors of chemical weapons have been evacuated from that country in a unique international
operation actively supported by Russia.
There still remain very serious barriers to the universality of the CWC, which can only be
overcome by joint and coordinated efforts on the part of the entire international commu-
nity.
The key role in this process should be played by Russia and the United States, which, one
would hope, equally need a universal CWC.
Электронное приложение к журналу «
Международная жизнь
»
Obstacles to the Universality of the Chemical Weapons Conven-
tion