DYB2011-Part-II-web

Biological and chemical weapons
progress in the Convention’s implementation. He discussed the Organisation’s
activities in 2011, including those in the field of verification and destruction,
industry inspection, international cooperation, assistance and protection,
universality and external relations, and the impending institutional changes
in the context of the transition process of OPCW. The Director-General
highlighted, inter alia, the fact that the destruction of existing stockpiles of
chemical weapons would remain a priority core objective for OPCW and
commended States parties for the constructive and forward-looking decision
approved by the Executive Council and recommended to the Conference.
The Director-General, furthermore, underscored the continued importance
of achieving universal adherence to the Convention and stressed the vital
role that States parties could play to persuade non-States parties to join the
CWC. He also expressed the hope that the prospective 2012 conference on
the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and all
other weapons of mass destruction would facilitate universal adherence to the
Convention.
Pursuant to a recommendation by the Executive Council at its thirty-first
meeting, the Conference of States Parties adopted the decision regarding the
final extended deadline for destruction of chemical weapons of 29 April 2012.
Although the decision was adopted by a vote, States parties underscored their
desire to continue to uphold the OPCW practice of reaching decisions by
consensus. The Conference adopted 16 decisions on, inter alia: matters related
to destruction deadlines; a framework agreement on international cooperation,
in particular the full implementation of article XI of the Convention; the
establishment of an International Support Network for Victims of Chemical
Weapons and the establishment of a voluntary trust fund for this purpose;
universal adherence to the Convention; tenure policy; the OPCW programme
and budget for 2012; and a comprehensive annual report on the Convention’s
implementation in 2010.
Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
With a total of 188 States parties, the OPCW covers 98 per cent of the
world’s population. The CWC rests on four main pillars—the destruction of
chemical weapons stockpiles, the non-proliferation of chemical weapons,
the assistance and protection of States parties against chemical weapons,
and international cooperation to promote the peaceful uses of chemistry. In
2011, OPCW continued to implement the Convention in the areas of chemical
demilitarization, verification and inspections; international cooperation
and assistance; national implementation and assistance; protection against
chemical weapons; and universality and external relations.
OPCW continued to make progress in the area of chemical
demilitarization and verification. As of 31 December, 72.85 per cent of
Category 1 and 52 per cent of Category 2 chemicals have been destroyed.
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