A/RES/73/45 GA

United Nations A/RES/73/45 General Assembly Distr.: General 12 December 2018 18-21246 (E) 141218 *1821246* Seventy-third session Agenda item 101 (k) Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 5 December 2018 [on the report of the First Committee (A/73/510 and A/73/510/Corr.1)] 73/45. Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject of chemical weapons, in particular resolution 72/43 of 4 December 2017, Determined to achieve the effective prohibition of the development, production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons and their destruction, Reaffirming its strong support for the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction1 and for the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and its deep appreciation of the Organisation, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2013 for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons, Re-emphasizing its unequivocal support for the decision of the Director General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to continue the mission to establish the facts surrounding the allegations of the use of chemical weapons, including toxic chemicals, for hostile purposes in the Syrian Arab Republic, while stressing that the safety and security of mission personnel remains the top priority, and recalling the work, pursuant to Security Council resolutions 2235 (2015) of 7 August 2015 and 2319 (2016) of 17 November 2016, of the Joint Investigative Mechanism of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the United Nations, which was established to identify to the greatest extent feasible individuals, entities, groups or Governments that were perpetrators, organizers, sponsors or otherwise involved in the use of chemicals as weapons, including chlorine or any other toxic chemical, in the Syrian Arab Republic, where the fact-finding __________________ 1 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1974, No. 33757. A/RES/73/45 Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction 18-21246 2/6 mission of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons determined that a specific incident in the Syrian Arab Republic involved or likely involved the use of chemicals as weapons, Reaffirming the importance of the outcome of the Third Special Session of the Conference of the States Parties to Review the Operation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, held in The Hague from 8 to 19 April 2013 (the Third Review Conference), including its consensus final report, in which the Conference addressed all aspects of the Convention and made important recommendations on its continued implementation, Emphasizing that the Third Review Conference welcomed the fact that the Convention is a unique multilateral agreement banning an entire category of weapons of mass destruction in a non-discriminatory and verifiable manner under strict and effective international control and noted with satisfaction that the Convention continues to be a remarkable success and an example of effective multilateralism, Convinced that the Convention, 21 years after its entry into force, has reinforced its role as the international norm against chemical weapons, and that it constitutes a major contribution to: (a) International peace and security, (b) Eliminating chemical weapons and preventing their re-emergence, (c) The ultimate objective of general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control, (d) Excluding completely, for the sake of all mankind, the possibility of the use of chemical weapons, (e) Promoting international cooperation and exchange in scientific and technical information in the field of chemical activities among States parties for peaceful purposes in order to enhance the economic and technological development of all States parties, 1. Reaffirms its condemnation in the strongest possible terms of the use of chemical weapons by anyone under any circumstances, emphasizing that any use of chemical weapons anywhere, at any time, by anyone, under any circumstances is unacceptable and is and would be a violation of international law and expressing its strong conviction that those individuals responsible for the use of chemical weapons must and should be held accountable; 2. Condemns in the strongest possible terms that chemical weapons have since 2012 been used in Iraq, Malaysia, the Syrian Arab Republic and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, including as reported by the Joint Investigative Mechanism of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the United Nations in: (a) Its reports of 24 August 20162 and 21 October 2016,3 which concluded that there was sufficient information to determine that the Syrian Arab Armed Forces were responsible for the attacks which released toxic substances in Talmenes, Syrian Arab Republic, on 21 April 2014, in Sarmin, Syrian Arab Republic, on 16 March 2015, and in Qmenas, Syrian Arab Republic, also on 16 March 2015, and that the so- called “Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant” used sulfur mustard in Marea, Syrian Arab Republic, on 21 August 2015; and __________________ 2 See S/2016/738/Rev.1. 3 See S/2016/888. Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction A/RES/73/45 3/6 18-21246 (b) Its report of 26 October 2017,4 which concluded that there was sufficient information to be confident that Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant was responsible for the use of sulfur mustard at Umm Hawsh on 15 and 16 September 2016 and that the Syrian Arab Republic was responsible for the release of sarin at Khan Shaykhun on 4 April 2017; and demands that the perpetrators immediately desist from any further use of chemical weapons; 3. Takes note with great concern in that regard of the reports of the fact- finding mission of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons regarding alleged incidents in Ltamenah, Syrian Arab Republic, 5 and regarding an alleged incident in Saraqib, Syrian Arab Republic, 6 as well as the interim report of the fact-finding mission of the Organisation regarding the incident of alleged use of toxic chemicals as a weapon in Douma, Syrian Arab Republic; 7 4. Recalls the adoption of decision C-SS-4/DEC.3 of the Fourth Special Session of the Conference of the States Parties, entitled “Addressing the threat from chemical weapons use”, of 27 June 2018, and stresses the importance of its implementation, in accordance with the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction;1 5. Emphasizes that the universality of the Convention is essential to achieving its object and purpose and to enhancing the security of States parties, as well as to international peace and security, underlines the fact that the objectives of the Convention will not be fully realized as long as there remains even a single State not party to the Convention that could possess or acquire such weapons, and calls upon all States that have not yet done so to become parties to the Convention without delay; 6. Underlines the fact that the full, effective and non-discriminatory implementation of all articles of the Convention makes a major contribution to international peace and security through the elimination of existing stockpiles of chemical weapons and the prohibition of their acquisition and use, and provides for assistance and protection in the event of use or threat of use of chemical weapons and for international cooperation for peaceful purposes in the field of chemical activities; 7. Notes the impact of scientific and technological progress on the effective implementation of the Convention and the importance for the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and its policymaking organs of taking due account of such developments; 8. Reaffirms that the obligation of the States parties to complete the destruction of chemical weapons stockpiles and the destruction or conversion of chemical weapons production facilities in accordance with the provisions of the Convention and the Annex on Implementation and Verification (Verification Annex) and under the verification of the Technical Secretariat of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is essential for the realization of the object and purpose of the Convention; 9. Stresses the importance to the Convention that all possessors of chemical weapons, chemical weapons production facilities or chemical weapons development __________________ 4 See S/2017/904. 5 See S/2017/931, annex, and S/2018/620, annex. 6 See S/2018/478, annex. 7 See S/2018/732, annex. A/RES/73/45 Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction 18-21246 4/6 facilities, including previously declared possessor States, should be among the States parties to the Convention, and welcomes progress to that end; 10. Recalls that the Third Special Session of the Conference of the States Parties to Review the Operation of the Chemical Weapons Convention expressed concern regarding the statement made by the Director General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in his report to the Executive Council of the Organisation at its sixty-eighth session, provided in accordance with paragraph 2 of decision C-16/DEC.11 of 1 December 2011 adopted by the Conference of the States Parties at its sixteenth session, that three possessor States parties, namely, Libya, the Russian Federation and the United States of America, had been unable to fully meet the final extended deadline of 29 April 2012 for the destruction of their chemical weapons stockpiles, and also expressed determination that the destruction of all categories of chemical weapons should be completed in the shortest time possible in accordance with the provisions of the Convention and the Verification Annex, and with the full application of the relevant decisions that have been taken; 11. Welcomes the confirmation by the Director General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons expressed in his report of 5 October 2017,8 based upon information received from the Russian Federation and independent information received from the inspectors of the Organisation, regarding the completion of the full destruction of chemical weapons declared by the Russian Federation; 12. Also welcomes the completed destruction of Libya’s remaining category 2 chemical weapons, as reported by the Director General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in his report of 22 December 2017,9 as well as the completed destruction by Iraq of its entire declared stockpile of chemical weapons remnants, as reported by the Director General in his report of 28 February 2018;10 13. Notes with concern that, along with the threat of the possible production, acquisition and use of chemical weapons by States, the international community also faces the danger of the production, acquisition and use of chemical weapons by non-State actors, including terrorists, concerns which have highlighted the necessity of achieving universal adherence to the Convention, as well as the high level of readiness of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, and stresses that the full and effective implementation of all provisions of the Convention, including those on national implementation (article VII) and assistance and protection (article X), constitutes an important contribution to the efforts of the United Nations in the global fight against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations; 14. Notes that the effective application of the verification system builds confidence in compliance with the Convention by States parties; 15. Stresses the importance of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in verifying compliance with the provisions of the Convention as well as in promoting the timely and efficient accomplishment of all its objectives; 16. Expresses grave concern that, despite the verified destruction of all 27 chemical weapons production facilities declared by the Syrian Arab Republic, the Technical Secretariat, as reported by the Director General, cannot fully verify that the Syrian Arab Republic has submitted a declaration that can be considered accurate and complete in accordance with the Convention or Executive Council decision __________________ 8 EC-86/DG.31. 9 EC-87/DG.6. 10 EC-87/DG.18. Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction A/RES/73/45 5/6 18-21246 EC-M-33/DEC.1 as well as with the conclusion of decision C-SS-4/DEC.3, of the Fourth Special Session of the Conference of the States Parties that the Syrian Arab Republic failed to declare and destroy all of its chemical weapons and chemical weapons production facilities, and underscores the importance of such full verification; 17. Urges all States parties to the Convention to meet in full and on time their obligations under the Convention and to support the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in its implementation activities; 18. Welcomes the progress made in the national implementation of article VII obligations, commends the States parties and the Technical Secretariat for assisting other States parties, on request, with the implementation of the follow-up to the plan of action regarding article VII obligations, and urges States parties that have not fulfilled their obligations under article VII to do so without further delay, in accordance with their constitutional processes; 19. Emphasizes the continuing relevance and importance of the provisions of article X of the Convention, welcomes the activities of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in relation to assistance and protection against chemical weapons, supports further efforts by both States parties and the Technical Secretariat to promote a high level of readiness to respond to chemical weapons threats as articulated in article X, and welcomes the effectiveness and efficiency of the increased focus on making full use of regional and subregional capacities and expertise, including taking advantage of established training centres; 20. Reaffirms that the provisions of the Convention shall be implemented in a manner that avoids hampering the economic or technological development of States parties and international cooperation in the field of chemical activities for purposes not prohibited under the Convention, including the international exchange of scientific and technical information, and chemicals and equipment for the production, processing or use of chemicals for purposes not prohibited under the Convention; 21. Emphasizes the importance of the provisions of article XI of the Convention relating to the economic and technological development of States parties, recalls that the full, effective and non-discriminatory implementation of those provisions contributes to universality, and reaffirms the undertaking of the States parties to foster international cooperation for peaceful purposes in the field of chemical activities of the States parties and the importance of that cooperation and its contribution to the promotion of the Convention as a whole; 22. Notes with appreciation the ongoing work of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to achieve the object and purpose of the Convention, to ensure the full implementation of its provisions, including those for international verification of compliance with it, and to provide a forum for consultation and cooperation among States parties; 23. Stresses the importance of the continued work related to the Fourth Special Session of the Conference of the States Parties to Review the Operation of the Chemical Weapons Convention; 24. Welcomes the cooperation between the United Nations and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons within the framework of the relationship agreement between the United Nations and the Organisation, 11 in accordance with the provisions of the Convention; __________________ 11 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2160, No. 1240. A/RES/73/45 Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction 18-21246 6/6 25. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventy-fourth session, under the item entitled “General and complete disarmament”, the sub-item entitled “Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction”. 45th plenary meeting 5 December 2018

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