The Chemical Weapons Convention and the Middle East
by
Rogelio Pfirter*

The CWC is also unique in that its implementation has benefited from cooperation with industry. Indeed, the global chemical industry has been a key partner in promoting adherence to the convention by its constituents and has helped to sustain an effective inspections regime for industrial facilities to prevent the illicit spread of toxic chemicals that could be used for weapons.

The popularity and achievements of this convention are evident. After just 12 years of existence, the CWC already counts 187 state parties with 98 percent of the world's population and chemical industry -- the fastest rate of accession for any arms treaty in history. This represents an overwhelming global consensus against the development, production or use of chemical weapons.

In these 12 years, 43 percent of the world's declared chemical weapons have been verifiably destroyed by possessor states, who have consistently demonstrated their firm commitment to complete destruction of their stockpiles by the April 2012 deadline set by the convention. In addition, all of the production facilities for these weapons were deactivated early on, and all but a few have since been either destroyed or converted to peaceful uses.

The implementing agency for the convention, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), offers important additional benefits to state parties. It provides support to strengthen their capacity in assistance and protection against the possible use of chemical weapons and, at the same time, promotes the peaceful uses of chemistry by facilitating the exchange of scientific knowledge and expertise. These programs, based on an ethos of mutual support, are attracting increased interest as a means to reduce the possibility of terrorists using chemical weapons.

However, achieving universality of the CWC will be essential to its ultimate success. The convention is only as strong as its weakest link, and the absence of any state -- whether large or small, rich or poor, but particularly one that might have an active chemical weapons program or stockpiles -- undermines the goal of achieving a total ban on these weapons. Universality will contribute to a climate of enhanced confidence in existing treaty structures and help promote further steps toward greater international security and stability.

As of today, eight countries remain outside the CWC, of which three are in the sensitive region of the Middle East -- Egypt, Israel and Syria. To address this challenge, the OPCW has convened a meeting this week in İstanbul which will explore ways to encourage these remaining countries to join the convention.

In this regard, it is very significant to note that both Lebanon and Iraq have acceded to the CWC in recent months, decisions that have contributed to building trust and momentum toward universality in the region. Libya, which joined the convention as a possessor state in 2004, is now in the process of building a new facility to destroy its chemical weapons stockpile.

For its part, Turkey ratified the convention within weeks of its entry into force in 1997 and has consistently and proactively supported the work of the OPCW. I would like to express my deep appreciation to the government of Turkey for its firm and longstanding commitment to fulfilling its obligations under the convention.

There is no justification, moral or strategic, for retaining the chemical weapons option. They have decreasing strategic significance in today's world and are basically instruments of terror against civilians. Quite appropriately, therefore, the Second Review Conference on the CWC in April 2008 strongly urged the remaining states not party to join the convention as a matter of urgency and without preconditions.

It is my hope that the meeting in İstanbul will help advance the prospects of attaining universal support and adherence to the CWC.