Further progress on chemical weapons ban, other "promising developments", reported.

Position1987 Conference on Disarmament

Further progress on chemical weapons ban, other "promising developments', reported

THE 1987 CONFERENCE on Disarmament has reported considerable progress in negotiations on a multilateral convention on the complete and effective prohibition of the development, production and stockpiling of chemical weapons and on their destruction. The 40-member body held its two-part session (3 February-30 April, 9 June-28 August) session in Geneva.

The Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee on Chemical Weapons of the Conference, Rolf Ekeus of Sweden, said the chemical weapons convention was no longer a distant goal but a real possibility, adding that today a largely developed draft text of the future convention existed with most elements in place.

Pierre Morel of France, Conference President for the month of August, at the conclusion of the session, said it had been "very active . . . rich in promising developments but also frustrating in some regards'.

It had incontestably benefited from the recent evolution in the international situation, particularly Soviet-American relations. All States had agreed that verification was an essential part of any disarmament agreement and needed rigorous examination. The increased interest of the international community in the work of the Conference had been reflected in the contributions of eminent government representatives.

During the 1987 session, the Conference established subsidiary bodies to continue work on disarmament questions within the framework of its permanent agenda of 10 items. In addition to the Ad Hoc Committee on Chemical Weapons, subsidiary bodies were established to continue work on the prevention of an arms race in outer space, a radiological weapons ban, a comprehensive programme of disarmament and security assurances for non-nuclear-weapon States.

Conference members were unable to agree on creation of ad hoc committees dealing with a nuclear test ban, cessation of the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament and prevention of nuclear war. The Conference held consultations on new types of weapons of mass destruction and new weapons of such systems, but no consensus was reached on proposals made on that subject.

The Conference reaffirmed its decision that its membership might be increased by not more than four States, with candidates from the Group of 21, the Socialist Group and the Western Group.

It was proposed that an additional session of the Conference be held in 1987 to complete drafting of the chemical weapons convention, but no action was taken.

Chemical weapons: The Conference, reporting on progress on the chemical weapons ban, said all major issues had been grouped into four "clusters' concerning chemical weapons stocks; chemical weapons production facilities; non-production of chemical weapons; and organization and functions of the Consultative Committee and its organs, as well as consultation...

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