Inspections abandoned chemical weapons

The destruction of these declared stockpiles has made considerable progress. There have been difficulties and delays, but there is no doubting the full commitment of all possessor States Parties to complete the destruction of all their chemical weapons within the time frames established by the Convention. Furthermore, facilities that were used in the past to produce chemical weapons are being destroyed or converted for legitimate purposes. Destruction as well as conversion operations are subject to systematic verification by the OPCW, which has conducted more than 1,800 inspections, in 65 States Parties, since the beginning of inspections in 1997. More than 1,000 of these inspections were conducted at CW facilities (CW storage facilities, former CW production facilities, destruction operations, and locations where old and/or abandoned chemical weapons are being recovered and destroyed). Some... 

Its main applications will be for analyses in connection with inspections of stockpiles of chemical ammunition, for old and abandoned chemical weapons, and for inspections in chemical industry. Due to the low sensitivity, it will not be of use for trace analyses, as they might occur in investigations of alleged use. 

The Technical Secretariat shall conduct an initial inspection, and any further inspections as may be necessary, in order to verify all available relevant information submitted pursuant to paragraphs 8 to 10 and determine whether systematic verification in accordance with Part IV (A), paragraphs 41 to 43, of this Annex is required It shall, if necessary, verify the origin of the abandoned chemical weapons and establish evidence concerning the abandonment and the identity of the Abandoning State. 

The issue of the attribution of costs related to inspections of old and abandoned chemical weapons remains unresolved. 

Recalling that the Executive Council had been requested by the Conference of the States Parties at its Third Session to continue addressing the issue of the attribution of the costs related to inspections of old and abandoned chemical weapons, with a view to making appropriate recommendations for a decision to be taken on these matters by the Conference at its Fourth Session ... 

Recalling the decision of the Executive Coimcil at its Fourteenth Session on the costs of inspections of abandoned chemical weapons (EC-XIV/DEC.2, and subparagraph 4.6 of EC XIV/2) ... 

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