AG/RES. 1624 (XXIX-O/99): Inter-American Support for the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction

(Resolution adopted at the first plenary session, held on June 7, 1999)

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,

HAVING SEEN the Annual Report of the Permanent Council (AG/doc.3830/99) and in particular, the section dealing with the Report of the Committee on Hemispheric Security (CP/CSH-202/99 rev. 1) which includes the subject "Inter-American Support for the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction";

REAFFIRMING that one of the essential purposes of the Organization of American States (OAS) is the strengthening of peace and security of the continent;

BEARING IN MIND the pledge of Heads of State and Government in the Santiago Declaration of the Second Summit of the Americas to continue promoting transparency in matters related to defense policy;

RECALLING its resolution on "Cooperation for Security and Development in the Hemisphere: Regional Contributions to Global Security" [AG/RES. 1236 (XXIII-O/93)] which recognized the efforts of the member states to contribute to regional and global security and which commended them for their accession to the principles of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction;

RECALLING FURTHER that in its resolution AG/RES. 1236 (XXIII-O/93) it requested that the Special Committee on Hemispheric Security consider, inter alia, "the prevention of all forms of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems by the adoption of appropriate controls on the exportation of dual-use goods and technologies, taking due account of their legitimate use for peaceful purposes";

WELCOMING the fact that the majority of member states of the Organization of American States signed the Convention, which entered into force on April 29, 1997;

BEARING IN MIND that the Convention is now in force for 20 of the 35 member states of the Organization of American States;

EMPHASIZING the urgent need for all states to take the necessary measures to prevent the spread and use of chemical weapons;

NOTING that universal adherence to and fulfillment of this Convention is the best defense against the proliferation and use of chemical weapons;

UNDERSCORING the importance of the Convention entering into force in each of the member states of the Organization of American States as soon as possible;

NOTING that the next Conference of States Parties of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons takes place in The Hague from June 28 to July 2, 1999; and

FURTHER NOTING that as of April 29, 2000, the chemicals listed in Schedule 2 of the Convention shall only be transferred to or received from states parties, including for activities not prohibited by the Convention,

RESOLVES:

1. To reaffirm its commitment to the principles of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction.

2. To welcome the specific steps taken by a number of member states of the Organization of American States to implement and consolidate the regime established by the said Convention.

3. To urge the governments of the region that have not yet done so, to ratify or accede to the Convention as soon as possible.

4. To request that the General Secretariat transmit this resolution to the Secretary-General of the United Nations and to the Director General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.