Print
Download XMLConvention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction
Parties with reservations, declarations and objections
| Party | Reservations / Declarations | Objections |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | Yes | No |
| Austria | Yes | No |
| Belgium | Yes | No |
| China | Yes | No |
| Cuba | Yes | No |
| Denmark | Yes | No |
| France | Yes | No |
| Germany | Yes | No |
| Greece | Yes | No |
| Holy See | Yes | No |
| Iran | Yes | No |
| Ireland | Yes | No |
| Israel | Yes | No |
| Italy | Yes | No |
| Luxembourg | Yes | No |
| Mauritius | Yes | No |
| Netherlands, the Kingdom of the | Yes | No |
| Pakistan | Yes | No |
| Portugal | Yes | No |
| Spain | Yes | No |
| Sudan | Yes | No |
| Syria | Yes | No |
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
| United States of America | Yes | No |
Argentina
14-11-2005
The Argentine Republic rejects the declaration made by the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland extending the territorial scope of the above-mentioned
Convention1 to the Malvinas Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
which are an integral part of the Argentine national territory.
It likewise rejects the British statement insofar as it refers to the intention to
apply the said Convention to the so-called 'British Antarctic Territory' and affirms
that that statement in no way affects the sovereign rights of the Argentine Republic
over the Argentine Antarctic Sector which is an integral part of its national territory.
In this connection, it is necessary to bear in mind the terms of article IV of the
Antarctic Treaty, signed on 1 December 1959, to which the Argentine Republic and the
United Kingdom are party.
The Argentine Republic also recalls that the Malvinas Islands, South Georgia, the
South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime areas are an integral part of
the Argentine national territory and, since they are being illegally occupied by the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, they form the subject of a sovereignty
dispute between both parties, a fact acknowledged by several international bodies.
On this matter, the General Assembly of the United Nations has adopted resolutions
2065 (XX), 3160 (XXVIII), 31/49, 37/9, 38/12, 39/6, 40/21, 41/40, 42/19 and 43/25,
in which it recognizes the existence of the sovereignty dispute related to the 'Question
of the Malvinas Islands' and urges the Governments of the Argentine Republic and of
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to resume negotiations with
a view to finding a peaceful, just and lasting solution to the dispute as soon as
possible. For its part, the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United Nations
has repeatedly issued similar calls, most recently through the resolution adopted
on 15 June 2005. The General Assembly of the Organization of American States also
adopted a further declaration on the question on 7 June 2005.
Austria
17-08-1995
As a Member State of the European Community, the Government of Austria will implement
the provisions of the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, in accordance
with its obligations arising from the rules of the Treaties establishing the European
Communities to the extent that such rules are applicable.
Belgium
13-01-1993
As a Member State of the European Community, the Government of Belgium will implement the provisions of the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, in accordance with its obligations arising from the rules of the Treaties establishing the European Communities to the extent that such rules are applicable.
27-01-1997
Declaration made upon signature confirmed upon ratification.
China
13-01-1993
I. China has consistently stood for the complete prohibition and thorough destruction
of all chemical weapons and their production facilities. The Convention constitutes
the legal basis for the realization of this goal. China therefore supports the object
and purpose and principles of the Convention.
II. The object and purpose and principles of the Convention should be strictly abided
by. The relevant provisions on challenge inspection should not be abused to the detriment
of the security interests of States Parties unrelated to chemical weapons. Otherwise,
the universality of the Convention is bound to be adversely affected.
III. States Parties that have abandoned chemical weapons on the territories of other
States parties should implement in earnest the relevant provisions of the Convention
and undertake the obligation to destroy the abandoned chemical weapons.
IV. The Convention should effectively facilitate trade, scientific and technological
exchanges and cooperation in the field of chemistry for peaceful purposes. All export
controls inconsistent with the Convention should be abolished.
25-04-1997
1. China has always stood for complete prohibition and thorough destruction of chemical
weapons. As CWC has laid an international legal foundation for the realization of
this goal, China supports the purpose, objectives and principles of the CWC.
2. China calls upon the countries with the largest chemical weapons arsenals to ratify
CWC without delay with a view to attaining its purposes and objectives at an early
date.
3. The purposes, objectives and principles of CWC should be strictly observed. The
provisions concerning challenge inspection shall not be abused and the national security
interests of States parties not related to chemical weapons shall not be compromised.
China is firmly opposed to any act of abusing the verification provisions which endangers
its sovereignty and security.
4. Any country which has abandoned chemical weapons on the territory of another country
should effectively implement the relevant CWC provisions, undertake the obligations
to destroy those chemical weapons and ensure the earliest complete destruction of
all the chemical weapons it has abandoned on another state's territory.
5. CWC should play a sound role in promoting international trade, scientific and technological
exchanges and cooperation for peaceful purposes in the field of chemical industry.
It should become the effective legal basis for regulating trade and exchange among
the states parties in the field of chemical industry.
Cuba
29-04-1997
The Government of the Republic of Cuba declares, in conformity with article III (a)
(iii) of the Convention, that there is a colonial enclave in its territory - the Guantanamo
Naval Base - a part of Cuban national territory over which the Cuban State does not
exercise its rightful jurisdiction, owing to its illegal occupation by the United
States of America by reason of a deceitful and fraudulent Treaty.
Consequently, for the purposes of the Convention, the Government of the Republic of
Cuba does not assume any responsibility with respect to the aforesaid territory, since
it does not know whether or not the United States has installed, possesses, maintains
or intends to possess chemical weapons in the part of Cuban territory that it illegally
occupies.
The Government of the Republic of Cuba also considers that it has the right to require
that the entry of any inspection group mandated by the Organization for the Prohibition
of Chemical Weapons, to carry out in the territory of Guantanamo Naval Base the verification
activities provided for in the Convention, should be effected through a point of entry
in Cuban national territory to be determined by the Cuban Government.
The Government of the Republic of Cuba considers that, under the provisions of article
XI of the Convention, the unilateral application by a State party to the Convention
against another State party of any restriction which would restrict or impede trade
and the development and promotion of scientific and technological knowledge in the
field of chemistry for industrial, agricultural, research, medical, pharmaceutical
or other purposes not prohibited under the Convention, would be incompatible with
the object and purpose of the Convention.
The Government of Cuba designates the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment,
in its capacity as the national authority of the Republic of Cuba for the Convention
on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical
Weapons and on Their Destruction, as the body of the central administration of the
State responsible for organizing, directing, monitoring and supervising the activities
aimed at preparing the Republic of Cuba to fulfil the obligations it is assuming as
a State party to the aforementioned Convention.
Denmark
14-01-1993
As a Member State of the European Community, the Government of Denmark will implement the provisions of the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, in accordance with its obligations arising from the rules of the Treaties establishing the European Communities to the extent that such rules are applicable.
France
13-01-1993
As a Member State of the European Community, the Government of France will implement the provisions of the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, in accordance with its obligations arising from the rules of the Treaties establishing the European Communities to the extent that such rules are applicable.
Germany
13-01-1993
As a Member State of the European Community, the Government of Germany will implement the provisions of the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, in accordance with its obligations arising from the rules of the Treaties establishing the European Communities to the extent that such rules are applicable.
12-08-1994
Declaration made upon signature confirmed upon ratification.
Greece
13-01-1993
As a Member State of the European Community, the Government of Greece will implement the provisions of the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, in accordance with its obligations arising from the rules of the Treaties establishing the European Communities to the extent that such rules are applicable.
22-12-1994
Declaration made upon signature confirmed upon ratification.
Holy See
12-05-1999
... the Holy See, in conformity with the nature and particular condition of Vatican
City State, intends to renew its encouragement to the International Community to continue
on the path towards a situation of general and complete disarmament, capable of promoting
peace and cooperation at world level.
Dialogue and multilateral negotiation are essential values in this process. Through
the instruments of international law, they facilitate the peaceful resolution of controversies
and help better mutual understanding. In this way they promote the effective affirmation
of the culture of life and peace.
While not possessing chemical weapons of any kind, the Holy See accedes to the solemn
act of ratification of the Convention in order to lend its moral support to this important
area of international relations which seeks to ban weapons which are particularly
cruel and inhuman and aimed at producing long-term traumatic effects among the defenceless
civilian population.
Iran
03-11-1997
The Islamic Republic of Iran, on the basis of the Islamic principles and beliefs,
considers chemical weapons inhuman, and has consistently been on the vanguard of the
international efforts to abolish these weapons and prevent their use.
1. The Islamic Consultative Assembly (the Parliament) of the Islamic Republic of Iran
approved the bill presented by the Government to join the [said Convention] on 27
July 1997, and the Guardian Council found the legislation compatible with the Constitution
and the Islamic Tenets on 30 July 1997, in accordance with its required Constitutional
process. The Islamic Consultative Assembly decided that:
The Government is hereby authorized, at an appropriate time, to accede to the [said
Convention] - as annexed to this legislation and to deposit its relevant instrument.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs must pursue in all negotiations and within the framework
of the Organization of the Convention, the full and indiscriminate implementation
of the Convention, particularly in the areas of inspection and transfer of technology
and chemicals for peaceful purposes. In case the afore-mentioned requirements are
not materialized, upon the recommendation of the Cabinet and approval of the Supreme
National Security Council, steps aimed at withdrawing from the Convention will be
put in motion.
2. The Islamic Republic of Iran attaches vital significance to the full, unconditional
and indiscriminate implementation of all provisions of the Convention. It reserves
the right to withdraw from the Convention under the following circumstances:
-- non-compliance with the principle of equal treatment of all States Parties in implementation
of all relevant provisions of the Convention;
-- disclosure of its confidential information contrary to the provisions of the Convention;
-- imposition of restrictions incompatible with the obligations under the Convention.
3. As stipulated in article XI, exclusive and non-transparent regimes impeding free
international trade in chemicals and chemical technology for peaceful purposes should
be disbanded. The Islamic Republic of Iran rejects any chemical export control mechanism
not envisaged in the Convention.
4. The Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is the sole international
authority to determine the compliance of States Parties regarding chemical weapons.
Accusations by States Parties against other States Parties in the absence of a determination
of non-compliance by OPCW will seriously undermine the Convention and its repetition
may make the Convention meaningless.
5. One of the objectives of the Convention as stipulated in its preamble is to `promote
free trade in chemicals as well as international cooperation and exchange of scientific
and technical information in the field of chemical activities for purposes not prohibited
under the Convention in order to enhance the economic and technological development
of all States Parties.' This fundamental objective of the Convention should be respected
and embraced by all States Parties to the Convention. Any form of undermining, either
in words or in action, of this overriding objective is considered by the Islamic Republic
of Iran a grave breach of the provisions of the Convention.
6. In line with the provisions of the Convention regarding non-discriminatory treatment
of States Parties:
- inspection equipment should be commercially available to all States Parties without
condition or limitation.
- the OPCW should maintain its international character by ensuring fair and balanced
geographical distribution of the personnel of its Technical Secretariat, provision
of assistance to and cooperation with States Parties, and equitable membership of
States Parties in subsidiary organs of the Organization,
7. The implementation of the Convention should contribute to international peace and
security and should not in any way diminish or harm national security or territorial
integrity of the States Parties.
Ireland
14-01-1993
As a Member State of the European Community, the Government of Ireland will implement the provisions of the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, in accordance with its obligations arising from the rules of the Treaties establishing the European Communities to the extent that such rules are applicable.
24-06-1996
Declaration made upon signature confirmed upon ratification.
Israel
18-06-2018
The Permanent Mission of Israel to the United Nations presents its compliments to
the Secretary General of the United Nations, in his capacity as depositary of the
Conventio on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of
Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction, and has the honor to refer to the Palestinian
request to accede to this Convention (Reference number C.N.250.2018.TREATIES-XXVI.3).
‘Palestine’ does not satisfy the criteria for statehood under international law and
lacks the legal capacity to join the aforesaid Convention both under general international
law and the terms of bilateral Israeli-Palestinian agreements.
The Government of Israel does not recognize ‘Palestine’ as a State, and wishes to
place on record, for the sake of clarity, its position that it does not consider ‘Palestine’
a party to the Convention and regards the Palestinian request for accession as being
without legal validity and without effect upon Israel’s treaty relations under the
Convention.
Italy
13-01-1993
As a Member State of the European Community, the Government of Italy will implement the provisions of the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, in accordance with its obligations arising from the rules of the Treaties establishing the European Communities to the extent that such rules are applicable.
08-12-1995
Declaration made upon signature confirmed upon ratification.
Luxembourg
13-01-1993
As a Member State of the European Community, the Government of Luxembourg will implement the provisions of the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, in accordance with its obligations arising from the rules of the Treaties establishing the European Communities to the extent that such rules are applicable.
15-04-1997
Declaration made upon signature confirmed upon ratification.
Mauritius
09-01-2020
(…) has the honour to register its strong objection against the extension by the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the socalled ‘British Indian Ocean
Territory’, of the Agreements listed at Annex and in respect of which the Secretary-General
is the depositary.
The Government of the Republic of Mauritius considers that by extending these Agreements
to the so-called ‘British Indian Ocean Territory’, the United Kingdom purported to
exercise sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago - a claim which is untenable under
international law.
The Government of the Republic of Mauritius wishes to reiterate in emphatic terms
that it does not recognize the so-called ‘British Indian Ocean Territory’. The fact
that the Chagos Archipelago is, and has always been, part of the territory of the
Republic of Mauritius, and that the United Kingdom has never had sovereignty over
the Chagos Archipelago, has been authoritatively established by the International
Court of Justice in its Advisory Opinion of 25 February 2019, on the Legal Consequences
of the Separation of the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius in 1965.
In this authoritative legal determination, the Court declared that the decolonization
of the Republic of Mauritius had not been lawfully completed in 1968, since the Chagos
Archipelago had been unlawfully detached in 1965, in violation of the right of self-determination
of peoples and the Charter of the United Nations, as applied and interpreted in accordance
with UN General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, resolution 2066
(XX) of 16 December 1965, resolution 2232 (XXI) of 20 December 1966 and resolution
2357 (XXII) of 19 December 1967. Accordingly, it went on to hold that the United Kingdom’s
ongoing administration of the Chagos Archipelago, as the so-called ‘British Indian
Ocean Territory’, was an internationally wrongful act, of a continuing nature, that
engaged the State responsibility of the United Kingdom. It determined that the United
Kingdom is under a legal obligation to terminate its unlawful colonial administration
‘as rapidly as possible’.
The Court further determined that all UN Member States have an obligation to cooperate
with the United Nations in facilitating the completion of the decolonization of the
Republic of Mauritius as rapidly as possible, including an obligation not to support
the continuing wrongful conduct of the United Kingdom in maintaining its colonial
administration in the Chagos Archipelago.
On 22 May 2019, the General Assembly, by an overwhelming majority of 116 votes to
6, adopted resolution 73/295. By this resolution, it endorsed the Court’s Advisory
Opinion, affirmed that the Chagos Archipelago forms an integral part of the territory
of the Republic of Mauritius, and demanded that the United Kingdom terminate its unlawful
colonial administration within a maximum of six months, that is, by no later than
22 November 2019. That deadline has now expired.
Moreover, the General Assembly in its resolution called upon Member States to ‘cooperate
with the United Nations to ensure the completion of the decolonization of Mauritius
as rapidly as possible’ and to refrain from conduct that might impede or delay the
completion of decolonization. It further called upon the United Nations and all its
specialized agencies to recognize that the Chagos Archipelago forms an integral part
of the territory of the Republic of Mauritius, to support the decolonization of the
Republic of Mauritius as rapidly as possible, and to refrain from impeding that process
by recognizing the so-called ‘British Indian Ocean Territory’. Lastly, the resolution
also called upon ‘all other international, regional and intergovernmental organizations,
including those established by treaty,’ to recognize that the Chagos Archipelago forms
an integral part of the territory of the Republic of Mauritius, to support its speedy
decolonization, and to ‘refrain from impeding that process’ by recognizing the so-called
‘British Indian Ocean Territory’.
The Republic of Mauritius has, over the years, consistently asserted, and hereby reasserts,
its full sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago. The Government of the Republic of
Mauritius therefore unequivocally protests against the extension by the United Kingdom
of the Agreements listed at Annex to the so-called ‘British Indian Ocean Territory’
and against the purported exercise by the United Kingdom of any sovereignty, rights
or jurisdiction within the territory of the Republic of Mauritius.
For the above stated reasons, which arise from established principles of international
law as authoritatively interpreted and applied by the International Court of Justice
and endorsed by the UN General Assembly, the Government of the Republic of Mauritius
does not recognize the extension by the United Kingdom of the Agreements listed at
Annex to the so-called ‘British Indian Ocean Territory’, reserves all its rights in
this regard, and calls upon all States Parties to the Agreements listed at Annex to
reject the United Kingdom's extension of these Agreements to the so-called ‘British
Indian Ocean Territory’.
--
See depositairy notification no. C.N.49.2020.TREATIES-XXVI.3 for the Annex (list of
Agreements).
Netherlands, the Kingdom of the
14-01-1993
As a Member State of the European Community, the Government of the Netherlands will implement the provisions of the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, in accordance with its obligations arising from the rules of the Treaties establishing the European Communities to the extent that such rules are applicable.
Pakistan
28-10-1997
1. Pakistan has consistently stood for the complete prohibition and thorough destruction
of all chemical weapons and their production facilities. The Convention constitutes
an international legal framework for the realization of this goal. Pakistan, therefore,
supports the objectives and purposes of the Convention.
2. The objectives and purposes of the Convention must be strictly adhered to by all
states. The relevant provisions on Challenge Inspections must not be abused to the
detriment of the economic and security interests of the States Parties unrelated to
chemical weapons. Otherwise, the universality and effectiveness of the Convention
is bound to be jeopardized.
3. Abuse of the verification provisions of the Convention, for purposes unrelated
to the Convention, will not be acceptable. Pakistan will never allow its sovereignty
and national security to be compromised.
4. The Convention should effectively facilitate trade, scientific and technological
exchanges and co-operation in the field of chemistry for peaceful purposes. All export
control regimes inconsistent with the Convention must be abolished.
Portugal
13-01-1993
As a Member State of the European Community, the Government of Portugal will implement the provisions of the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, in accordance with its obligations arising from the rules of the Treaties establishing the European Communities to the extent that such rules are applicable.
10-09-1996
Declaration made upon signature confirmed upon ratification.
Spain
13-01-1993
As a Member State of the European Community, the Government of Spain will implement the provisions of the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, in accordance with its obligations arising from the rules of the Treaties establishing the European Communities to the extent that such rules are applicable.
03-08-1994
Declaration made upon signature confirmed upon ratification.
29-12-2005
... the Kingdom of Spain considers that such an extension has been made exclusively
inasmuch as Gibraltar is a territory for whose international relations the United
Kingdom is responsible and, therefore, falls within the category of "any place under
[the] jurisdiction or control [of a State Party]", according to the terminology used
in the Convention.
Therefore, the Kingdom of Spain considers that the circulation of the United Kingdom's
notification in the above-mentioned terms does not prejudge in any way either the
legal status of the territory nor the sovereignty claims that the Kingdom of Spain
consistently maintains with regard to Gibraltar.
Sudan
24-05-1999
Firstly, the unilateral application by a State Party to the Convention, runs counter
to the objectives and purposes of the Convention.
Secondly, the Convention must be fully and indiscriminately implemented particularly
in the areas of inspection and transfer of technology for peaceful purposes.
Thirdly, no restrictions incompatible with the obligations under the Convention shall
be imposed. Fourthly, the Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW),
is the sole international authority to determine the compliance of States Parties
with the provisions of the Convention.
Syria
14-09-2013
[...] shall comply with the stipulations contained [in the Convention] and observe
them faithfully and sincerely, applying the Convention provisionally pending its entry
into force for the Syrian Arab Republic. [The Government of the Syrian Arab Republic]
also affirms the following:
The accession of the Syrian Arab Republic to the Convention shall not in any sense
imply recognition of Israel, and shall not entail entering into any relations with
Israel in the matters governed by the provisions thereof.
United Kingdom
13-01-1993
As a Member State of the European Community, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland will implement the provisions of the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, in accordance with its obligations arising from the rules of the Treaties establishing the European Communities to the extent that such rules are applicable.
27-04-2006
In accordance with instructions received from the Government, I have the honour to
refer to the communication dated 30 November 2005 from the Government of Argentina
to the United Nations relating to the extension of the Convention on the Prohibition
of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and use of Chemical Weapons and their
Destruction, to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands,
and the British Antarctic Territory.
The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland are fully
entitled to extend the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production,
Stockpiling and use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction to the Falkland Islands,
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, and the British Antarctic Territory.The
Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland have no doubts
about the sovereignty of the United Kingdom over the Falkland Islands, South Georgia
and the South Sandwich Islands, and the British Antarctic Territory, and their surrounding
maritime areas, and reject the claim by the Government of Argentina to soverignty
over those islands and areas and that the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the
South Sandwich Islands are under illegal occupation by the United Kingdom.
United States of America
25-04-1997
Subject to the condition which relates to the Annex on Implementation and Verification, that no sample collected in the United States pursuant to the Convention will be transferred for analysis to any laboratory outside the territory of the United States.
18-06-2018
The United States Mission to the United Nations presents its compliments to the Executive
Office of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and refers to the U.N. Secretary-General’s
depositary notification C.N.250.2018.TREATIES-XXVI.3, dated May 18, 2018, regarding
the purported accession of the ‘State of Palestine’ to the Convention on the Prohibition
of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their
Destruction, done at Geneva September 3, 1992 (the Convention), for which the Secretary-General
of the United Nations is the depositary.
The Government of the United States of America does not believe the ‘State of Palestine’
qualifies as a sovereign State and does not recognize it as such. Accession to the
Convention is limited to sovereign States. Therefore, the Government of the United
States of America believes that the ‘State of Palestine’ is not qualified to accede
to the Convention and affirms that it will not consider itself to be in a treaty relationship
with the ‘State of Palestine’ under the Convention.