Chemical Weapons Convention interpretations

One of the important lessons learned from the preparation for the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) was the necessity of at least two different spectrometric techniques to absolutely determine compound identification. Additionally, expert interpretation of the results is necessary. 

Decides that none of the obligations set forth in this resolution shall be interpreted so as to conflict with or alter the rights and obligations of State Parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention or alter the responsibilities of the International Atomic Energy Agency or the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons ... 

By 1922, there seemed to exist a widespread consensus that CW was an especially undesirable form of warfare and one which should be prohibited by international convention. This desire to prohibit by treaty had been interpreted by some jurists as evidence of a perceived lack of any customary law prohibiting the use of chemical weapons. 

As Soviet intentions on the use of chemical weapons are not clearly and openly stated, these interpretations cannot be disproved. But their plausibility may be questioned, especially in view of America s limited offensive chemical capability which, whatever its merits or lack of them as a deterrent, cannot be considered as a first strike threat. Nor are America s allies in Western Europe, of whom only France possesses any offensive chemical warfare capability, able to pose a significant threat to Soviet forces. Nor are the risks of nuclear escalation in the wake of a chemical strike particularly credible, at least in an era of nuclear parity when NATO has every incentive to keep the nuclear threshold as high as possible. On the contrary, the possibility or even strong probability that the Soviets would initiate chemical warfare in a conventional war must be taken seriously it reflects an apparent change in Soviet attitudes towards chemical weapons, a... 

For the purposes of this Article, Assistance means the coordination and delivery to States Parties of protection against chemical weapons, including, inter alia, the following detection equipment and alarm systems protective equipment decontamination equipment and decontaminants medical antidotes and treatments and advice on any of these protective measures. Nothing in this Convention shall be interpreted as impeding the right of any State Party to conduct research into, develop, produce, acquire, transfer or use means of protection against chemical weapons, for purposes not prohibited under this Convention. 

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