Chemical Weapons Convention operations, review

Report of the First Special Session of the Conference of the States Parties [of the Chemical Weapons Convention] to Review the Operation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (First Review Conference), document RC-1/5,9 May 2003, para. 7.16. 

Report of the First Special Session of the Conference of the States Parties to Review the Operation of the Chemical Weapons Convention [First Review Conference] 28 April 9 May 2003, OPCW Doc. RC-1/5, 9 May 2003, p. 22, para. 7.88. For the Review Conference itself, see Alexander Kelle, The CWC after Its First Review Conference Is the Glass Half Full or Half Empty , Disarmament Diplomacy, No. 71 (June/July 2003), pp. 31-40 Kerry Boyd, CWC Members Meet to Review Progress, Goals , Arms Control Today 33 4 (May 2003), p. 38. 

Recalling the recommendations that the First Speeial Session of the Conference of the States Parties to Review the Operation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (First Review Conference) made on national implementation measures (as eovered under agenda item 7(c)(v) of its report, subparagraphs 7.74 to 7.83 of RC-1/5, dated 9 May 2003), in particular the agreement in subparagraph 7.83(h) of that report to develop, at its next regular session, a plan of action based on a recommendation from the Executive Council (hereinafter the Coimcil ) regarding the im-... 

Over the past decade, liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry (LC/MS) has evolved from being primarily a research tool, available in a limited number of analytical laboratories, to a robust and widely available analytical and investigative technique (1 3). It is now in widespread use in pharmaceutical, food, environmental, and forensic laboratories and is an indispensable tool in biomedical research. At the time of our previous review of this subject (4), few laboratories were using LC/MS in the analysis of chemicals relevant to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). This was due to a number of factors, two of which were the cost of instrumentation and a perception that the technique was difficult to implement in an analytical laboratory. In the intervening years, the costs of basic LC/MS have been reduced, and the instrumentation has become robust and easier to operate. LC/MS is now a mature technique that should be considered by all laboratories that are required to analyze chemicals related to the CWC. 

States Parties to Review the Operation of the Chemical Weapons Convention by Mr. Mustafa Kamal Kazi, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the OPCW, The Hague, 30 April 2003. 

Extract of RC-2/S/1 containing a Note by the Technical Secretariat dated 31 March 2008 and entitled Review of the Operation of the Chemical Weapons Convention since the First Review Conferenee ... 

Recalling that the Second Special Session of the Conference of the States Parties to Review the Operation of the Chemical Weapons Convention noted with concern that the issue of low concentrations in relation to Schedule 2A and 2A chemicals has not yet been resolved , and urged the Executive Cotmcil (hereinafter the Cormcd ) to resume work promptly, with the support of the Secretariat, towards the earhest resolution of the issue (paragraph 9.63 of RC-2/4, dated 18 April 2008) and... 

Recalling that the First Special Session of the Conference of the States Parties to Review the Operation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (hereinafter the First Review Conference ) attached great importance to the attainment of universal adherence by States to the Chemical Weapons Convention (hereinafter the Convention ) and acting upon the recommendation of the First Review Conference that the Executive Council (hereinafter the Council ), with the cooperation of the Technical Secretariat, develop and implement a plan of action to further encourage, in a systematic and coordinated manner, adherence to the Convention, and to assist States ready to join the Convention in their national preparations for its implementation ... 

Agenda item seven - Review of the operation of the Chemical Weapons Convention as provided for in paragraph 22 of Article Vlll, taking into account any relevant scientific and technological developments, and as required by paragraph 26 of Part IX of the Verification Annex to the Chemical Weapons Convention ... 

The First Review Conference noted that a large part of the OPCW s verification resources have in the past been spent on the verification of chemical weapons destruction operations. The planned increase in chemical weapons destruction in coming years and any resource constraints will require a thorough review of the current verification methodology used for chemical weapons destruction verification, as part of the effort to optimise the verification regime of the Convention. 

The Second Special Session of the Conference of the States Parties to Review the Operation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (hereinafter the Second Review Conference ) was opened at 15 12 on 7 April 2008 by the Chairperson of the Twelfth Session of the Conference of the States Parties (hereinafter the Conference ), Ambassador Abuel-gasim Abdelwahid Shiekh Idris of Sudan. It received a message from the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), delivered by his special representative, Mr Tim Caughley, Director of the Geneva Branch, Office for Disarmament Affairs and Deputy Secretary-General of the Conference on Disarmament (RC-2/2, dated 7 April 2008). 

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