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Parliaments Demand Zero Tolerance on Chemical Weapons
un article par The Inter-Parliamentary Union
The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has called on
all its 163 members to condemn the use of chemical
weapons and to demand their respective governments
sign and ratify the Chemical Weapons Convention
(CPW).
Ms. Maria Lohela (Finland), presenting the resolution to the Assembly. ©IPU/Giancarlo Fortunato
click on photo to enlarge
Adopted at the closing of its three-day 129th
Assembly in Geneva, an emergency IPU resolution
demanded that all States not yet party to the
Convention accede to or ratify it as a matter of
urgency and without any preconditions.
Parliaments needed to check their national
legislation concerning chemical weapons and ensure
its effective implementation. They also needed to
contribute to a zero tolerance environment for the
development, production, stockpiling and use of
chemical weapons.
Stressing universal adherence to the ban on the
use of such weapons, the resolution also
underscored the importance of the speedy
destruction of declared stockpiles. IPU members
have expressed concern at the continued existence
of declared stockpiles amounting to more than
13,000 metric tonnes.
The IPU resolution also asks the international
community to look for sources of funding to be used
for the safe and speedy destruction of all
stockpiles.
While saddened by the latest use of chemical weapons
claiming hundreds of lives, IPU recognized Syria’s
accession to the CPW - to which 189 States are party
- and underlined the need for full compliance with
the provisions of the Convention.
The resolution asked all parliaments to support and
fully comply with the invaluable work being done by
the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical
Weapons to oversee and monitor the implementation of
the Convention.
Concluding the Assembly, IPU members also expressed
deep concern over the recent terrorist act in the
Kenyan capital, Nairobi, which claimed the lives of
67 people and injured 175.
In a statement on behalf of the membership, IPU
President Abdelwahad Radi condemned terrorism in all
its forms and expressed outrage “at such cowardly
and reprehensible acts, which cannot be justified on
any political, religious or ideological grounds.”
He appealed to national parliaments to ensure that
counter-terrorism laws are in place and enforced.
“Impunity for the perpetrators of terrorists acts
will only beget further acts of terrorism,” he
stated.
With a particularly large high-level participation
that included more than 40 Speakers of Parliament,
the Assembly put a great emphasis on non-
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Link to emergency draft resolution.
Full details on Assembly agenda.
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DISCUSSION
Question(s) liée(s) à cet article:
Can chemical weapons be abolished,
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Commentaire le plus récent:
This discussion question applies to the following articles:
US Strategy for Ridding Syria of Chemical Arms
Parliaments Demand Zero Tolerance on Chemical Weapons
Statement by the OPCW Director-General on the 2013 Nobel Prize for Peace
Good news: Destruction of Syria's Chemical Weapons
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