Annan to call for full implementation of treaty against chemical weapons

Despite progress made in the destruction of chemical weapons and the conversion of chemical weapons facilities, vigilance and renewed commitment to the full implementation of an international treaty against such arsenals remain essential, United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, says in message to an upcoming meeting of parties to the accord.

In his remarks to the Seventh Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention, which opens Monday in The Hague, Mr. Annan asks delegates to imagine what would have happened if weapons of mass destruction had been used in the 11 September terrorist attack on the United States.

"We must continue to work towards the universality of the Convention, towards the total destruction of chemical weapons stockpiles and for a world in which cooperation in the peaceful uses of chemistry is fostered," the Secretary General says in his message, which is scheduled to be delivered by Roman-Morey, Deputy Secretary-General of the UN Conference on Disarmament.

The Secretary-General urges States that have yet not ratified or acceded to the Convention to do so without delay. The Convention, which entered into force five years ago, has 146 States Parties and an additional 19 countries that have signed it.