NEWS RELEASES
CANADA WELCOMES ENTRY INTO FORCEOF CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION
April 30, 1997 No. 81
CANADA WELCOMES ENTRY INTO FORCE
OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today welcomed the entry into force of the
Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and reiterated Canada's commitment to this
important convention.
"The Chemical Weapons Convention is a landmark in the history of global
disarmament efforts. It is the first convention to completely prohibit an entire
class of weapons of mass destruction and provide for a comprehensive verification
regime. However, entry into force is a beginning not an end. There is much work to
do to ensure that the CWC fulfils the expectations that we and others have placed
in it," said Mr. Axworthy.
"Canada will continue to support the CWC and encourage all countries that have not
yet ratified the Convention to do so as soon as possible. We particularly welcome
the recent ratification by the United States and strongly encourage the Russian
Federation, the only other state to openly declare it has chemical weapons, to
ratify as well," added the Minister.
The Convention was negotiated and opened for signature in 1993. Canada signed the
CWC that year and ratified on September 26, 1995. The CWC entered into force on
April 29, 1997, six months after the 65th state, Hungary, ratified. The Convention
prohibits States Parties from producing and using chemical weapons and restricts
their trade in any chemicals that could be used as chemical weapons or to make
them. It further obliges States Parties to make declarations concerning their use
of scheduled chemicals and to allow international teams to investigate facilities
that could be used to covertly produce chemical weapons.
There are now 165 signatories to the Convention, 87 of whom have ratified and are
now States Parties. Convention signatories will meet for a Conference in the Hague
beginning on May 6, where States Parties will establish the Organization for the
Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the body that will oversee implementation of the
CWC. Canada's delegation will be led by the Honourable Gildas Molgat, Speaker of
the Senate.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Catherine Lappe
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
This document is also available on the Department's Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
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