Arusha - Green Customs Initiative

of chemistry for permitted purposes. Mr. Laza pointed out key prohibitions by the CWC
which include: developing, producing, otherwise acquiring, stockpiling or retaining CW, or
transferring directly or indirectly CW to anyone; using chemical weapons; engaging in any
military preparations to use CW; assisting, encouraging or inducing anyone, in any way, in
any activity prohibited to a State Party under the Convention; and use of riot control agents as
a method of warfare.
Mr. Laza under CWC the phase out (destruction) of the existing chemical weapons stocks is
planned by 2007. He said that as of September 2005, 64 chemical weapon production
facilities were declared in 12 State Parties and all have been deactivated with 37 having been
destroyed (5 still to be destroyed), 14 converted for peaceful purposes (8 still to be converted),
and in summary, he indicated that more than 75% of the declared chemical weapons
production capability has already been eliminated. Mr. Laza mentioned that Member States
are obligated to make contributions to the OPCW to support protection and assistance, either
to a voluntary fund for assistance or a donation of equipment and materials. These
contributions make it possible for the OPCW to respond to a request for assistance from any
Member State that is attacked or threatened with a chemical weapons attack. The OPCW has
established a network of experts to advise the Organisation and Member States on how best to
protect people and the environment from chemical weapons.
Plenary and Discussion
A delegate from Uganda requested on clarification on the difference between chemical and
biological weapons. Mr. Laza explained that biological weapons involves infectious viruses
and bacteria whereas chemical weapons rather involves toxic/poisonous chemicals and the
toxicity and physical characteristic are important since this reduces the amount to be applied.
He further explained that usually the quantities used for biological weapons are relatively
small when compared to chemical weapons.
A delegate from Kenya raised concerns that tears gas is declared as a chemical weapon in
some countries while in others it is used for riot control and wanted to know the position of
the CWC. Mr. Laza clarified that teargas is not necessarily a chemical weapon. Under the
CWC it is considered as riot control agent and for this case the Convention prohibits its use as
a chemical weapon with the view of avoiding its stockpiling by countries but instead maintain
only reasonable stocks for specific purposes.
A delegate from Kenya wanted to know if a country is suspected to posses weapons of mass
destruction including chemicals weapons but upon inspection none of the weapons are found
then how is this implied in the context of the Convention. Further, a delegate from Kenya
requested for clarification on the nature of penalties for Parties in breach of the Chemical
Weapons Convention such as producing or using chemical weapons. Mr. Laza explained that
there are four types of inspections for chemicals that are conducted. These include: routine
inspection for industrial facilities, stockpiles and their destruction in the normal course of
CWC implementation; challenge inspection whereby if any Member State doubts that another
member country is complying with the CWC, it can request a special inspection which can be
conducted anytime, anywhere, a Member State does not have the right to refuse a challenge
inspection or to block access to the challenged site; and inspection of alleged use of chemical
weapons. Mr. Laza informed that as of 31 August 2005, a total of 2195 routine inspections has
been conducted in 72 State Parties. He further said that if a country is found in breach of the
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