Doc. 9089
7 May 2001

Prevention of environmental disasters by supporting the destruction of chemical weapons

Motion for a resolution

presented by Mrs Fehr and others

Whereas 143 countries have ratified and over thirty others have signed the international Chemical Weapons Convention, which bans the research, development, production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons;

Whereas all declared chemical weapons possessors are obliged to destroy their stockpiles by 2007 with a possible extension to 2012;

Whereas failures to meet the destruction deadlines endanger not only the relevant international arms control agreements but also human health and the environment;

      Whereas, in recent months, the situation in other regions puts international and world security at risk by leading to a rapid deterioration in relations;

Whereas continued stockpiling will increase the cost of destruction and the risks of possible catastrophic events with many casualties and consequences more expensive than the costs of a rapid destruction;

Whereas several member states of the Council of Europe still face daily threats to environment and public health from old unexploded WWI chemical bombs, as recently seen in Vimy (France) ;

The Assembly concludes that resolute steps are needed to be taken in the very near future by all in order to prevent the collapse of the Chemical Weapons Convention and to protect human health and the environment,

Therefore, the Assembly hereby requests the governments of the member states of the Council of Europe

- to financially and politically support international assistance provided to ongoing chemical weapons destruction programmes in possessor states;

- for the governments of European Union member states to strengthen the EU’s Joint Action towards Russia on chemical weapons destruction;

- to promote the accession of non-member states to the Chemical Weapons Convention in order to ensure universality;

- to inform the population at large about the dangers stemming from the continued existence of chemical weapons and the importance of their timely destruction;

- to take all measures leading to decreasing or eliminating the risk to human health and the environment by old and abandoned chemical weapons.

Signed :

Fehr, Switzerland, LDR

Agudo, Spain, SOC

Akçali, Turkey, EDG

Akhvlediani, Georgia, LDR

Bársony, Hungary, SOC

Björnemalm, Sweden, SOC

Briane, France, EPP/CD

Budiša, Croatia, LDR

Busic, Croatia, PPE/DC

Čekuolis, Lithuania, LDR

Cherribi, Netherlands, LDR

Cilevics, Latvia, SOC

Clerfayt, Belgium, LDR

Davis, United Kingdom, SOC

Derycks, Belgium, SOC

Ehrmann, France, LDR

Eörsi, Hungary, LDR

Err, Luxembourg, SOC

Etherington, United Kingdom, SOC

Frey, Switzerland, LDR

Gross, Switzerland, SOC

Hancock, United Kingdom, LDR

Haraldsson, Iceland, LDR

Hornung, Germany, EPP/CD

Isohookana-Asunmaa, Finland, LDR

Iwinski, Poland, SOC

Jansson, Finland, LDR

Jones, United Kingdom, SOC

Judd, United Kingdom, SOC

Jurgens, Netherlands, SOC

Kjaer, Denmark, EDG

Laakso, Finland, UEL

Lippelt, Germany, LDR

Lotz, Hungary, LDR

Mariot, France, SOC

Mikaelsson, Sweden, UEL

Nabholz, Switzerland, LDR

Ojuland, Estonia, LDR

Pinggera, Italy, EPP/CD

Pozza Tasca, Italy, LDR

Reimann, Switzerland, LDR

Ringstad, Norway, LDR

Robol, Italy, EPP/CD

Roman, Slovenia, LDR

Schicker, Austria, SOC

Schieder, Austria, SOC

Schmied, Switzerland, LDR

Severinsen, Denmark, LDR

Shishlov, Russia, LDR

Škrabalo, Croatia, LDR

Stankevic, Lithuania, LDR

Stepová, Czech Republic, SOC

Stoisits, Austria, SOC

Van’t Riet, Netherlands, LDR

Wohlwend, Liechtenstein, EPP/CD

Zapfl-Helbling, Switzerland, EPP/CD

Zierer, Germany, EPP/CD

Zwerver, Netherlands, SOC

________________________

       SOC: Socialist Group

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group