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Non-Aligned Movement to US, Russia: Scrap chemical arms

Press TV – November 29, 2011

The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and China issued a statement on the first day of the 16th International Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) confab calling on US and Russia to destroy their chemical weapons arsenals, Press TV reports.

The statement was released on Tuesday noting that the weapons of mass destruction posed a serious threat to international peace and security.

The signatories also declared their readiness to work for the realization of complete international disarmament.

They also emphasized the necessity of unbiased and complete implementation of the content of CWC.

Regretting Washington’s recent decision to keep its chemical weapons arsenal, which it should have destroyed by April 29, 2010, the signatories called on the US and Russia, as the main holders of chemical weapons, to abide by international obligations and destroy their chemical weapons before the deadline set by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

The NAM and China also warned that failing to meet the deadline by the US and Russia will undermine the credibility and integrity of CWC.

They also backed Iran’s initiative, which had been first brought up in the 15th CWC conference in 2010, to establish a global network in order to support the victims of chemical weapons.

The 16th international Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) kicked off in the Hague on Tuesday, November 29, at the OPCW’s headquarters with the elimination of chemical weapons across the world as its main focus.

According to its mission statement, the CWC prohibits the development, production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons.

A total of 188 countries have so far acceded to the convention.

The convention required signatory states to destroy all their stockpiles of such weapons by April 29, 2007. But the United States has asked for the deadline to be extended by an entire decade.

According to the CWC’s directive, any country found to be in non-compliance will have to be referred to the United Nations Security Council.

As one of the main victims of chemical weapons, Iran has repeatedly asked Washington to abide by the international law, calling for the removal of its stockpiles of the arms.

November 29, 2011 - Posted by | Militarism, Timeless or most popular, War Crimes

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