On Dec 3, 2013 India ratified one million USD aid to Syria at The Hague, Netherlands, to help Syria accomplish the much talked and targeted chemical weapons destruction after it’s accession to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in Sep 2013. India has also opted to share technical know-how with Syria to clean up its acts. India’s approach has been talked as wise as it would make way for India’s entry to the Geneva II peace talks which are scheduled for Jan 2014. The peace talks would aim at drawing truce between conflicting parties in Syria and bringing an end to three years of turmoil on Syrian soil. The participating nations are US, China, Russia, the European Union, the Syrian neighbours Turkey and Iran, the Syrian rebels and representatives of the Syrian President Bashar Al – Assad. Russia extended a welcoming gesture from the Kremlin Complex in Moscow, to India’s initiative and backed her candidature for the Geneva II talks. But, a unanimous voice in India’s favour is required for her to be included in the talks. Comprehending India’s interest here is of significance as it will not only give her grounds on global front, but reinforce her peace-loving and humane semblance too.
Syria’s Accession to Chemical Weapons Convention (Timeline)
It has been a long struggle for power on Syrian territory now. Since July, 2012 when Jihad Makdissi, spokesman to Syrian Foreign Ministry declared Syria’s possessions of chemical weapons, many eyebrows were raised. Even after assuring that the deadly weapons will be used only against external hostilities and not against the common people, there were constant investigations by US intelligence agencies. The confirming reports listed, inter alia, mustard gas, blister agents, and nerve agentssuch as Sarin and VX to be in Syria’s arsenal and which Syria could use by means of aerial bombing, ballistic missiles, and artillery rockets. Not surprisingly, these are known to cause nausea, relaxed muscles, blurred vision, foaming in mouth, breathing difficulties, loss of consciousness and even fatalities.
It has been a long struggle for power on Syrian territory now. Since July, 2012 when Jihad Makdissi, spokesman to Syrian Foreign Ministry declared Syria’s possessions of chemical weapons, many eyebrows were raised. Even after assuring that the deadly weapons will be used only against external hostilities and not against the common people, there were constant investigations by US intelligence agencies. The confirming reports listed, inter alia, mustard gas, blister agents, and nerve agentssuch as Sarin and VX to be in Syria’s arsenal and which Syria could use by means of aerial bombing, ballistic missiles, and artillery rockets. Not surprisingly, these are known to cause nausea, relaxed muscles, blurred vision, foaming in mouth, breathing difficulties, loss of consciousness and even fatalities.
August 2012 onwards, the U.S. has been actively monitoring Syria’s all such activities which triggered their suspicions. Over a year ago, in Dec 2012, reports started to float around claiming the use of chemical weapons over civilian areas by Assad Regime. Amongst the West, France and U.K. requested the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to conduct investigations into three such claims. Eventually, to ascertain the truth about Mar 19, 2013 Aleppo attacks, the Syrian government also requested UN to conduct investigations into these allegations. And in March alone, an investigation into the heinous crime was announced by the Secretary-General collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting when Syrian opposition activists accused the Syrian government to have conducted chemical attacks in the Damascus suburb of Ghouta, on Aug 21, 2013 to drive out the rebels. Alarms were raised at the OPCW too. Meanwhile, US vehemently sought the Congress’ support to conduct military action Syria for its irresponsible acts against its civilians.
On Sep 2, 2013, France also established through its report the chemical nature of attacks and conclusively declared them to be violative of the 1925 Geneva Protocol which prohibits the use of chemical and biological weapons in war.
On Sep 9, 2013, Syria’s old ally Russia who has been favouring Syrian government all through, proposed dismantling of Syria’s armaments in order to avert any military force from US which resulted in a nod from the US Secretary of State John Kerry.
On Sep 12, 2013 President Assad, signed a declaration of Syria’s accession to the CWC. With this, on Sep 14, 2013 Syria became the 190th party to the CWC. The proposal was jointly drafted by US and Russia as per which by mid of 2014 the disarmament of 500 metric tons of the nastiest chemical weapons ingredients would be consummated. A fortnight later the resolution was accepted by the OPCW and endorsed by the UN making it pledge to support the programme. And in Nov, OPCW gave a completely timed plan for the elimination of Syria’s arsenal. One of the deadlines has already been met with rendering inoperable of the production facilities for chemical weaponry.
The destruction is a chancy affair given the nature of weapons. So, a territory outside Syria was a probable destination for it to take place. Many western European powers (Albania, Belgium, Denmark, France, and Norway) have the capability to deal with such toxic chemicals but getting clearances via lawful authorities seemed a lengthy task. Hence, on Nov 30, 2013 OPCW announced U.S. as the finalist amongst all candidates contending to destroy Syria’s chemical weapons. The US is now prepping its ship Cape Ray to eliminate the chemicals in sea via Hydrolysis - a process that decomposes chemical agents using hot water and other compounds to nullify the agents. US claims to have used the same intelligence while destroying chemical wastes post cold-war on its territory. The plan aims to meet a deadline set by the Council to destroy Syria’s “priority chemicals” by 31 March 2014 and other mostly commodity chemicals by 30 June 2014. However, a few links in the process need proficient approach for they can doom the entire framework agreement – viz. transporting the chemicals from Syrian soil to the ship, disposing of waste after neutralising the chemicals, preventing illegal access or miss handling, etc.
The CWC
The drawback with the 1925 Geneva Protocol was that it did not disallow possession of chemical armaments but only its use. The CWC with a more stringent approach outlawed possessing a chemical weapons armoury too. The 1980 UN Conference on Disarmament resulted in opening of the CWC talks forcing the convention into action in 1997. It is a multilateral treaty of an unending duration, banning the chemical weapons and requiring their termination within a definite timeline. The CWC maintains written records of chemical weapons stockpiles of its member nations along with such production facilities, industries and the like hence the complete name: Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction. A signatory has to make such declarations in writing within 30 days of signing the convention.
The drawback with the 1925 Geneva Protocol was that it did not disallow possession of chemical armaments but only its use. The CWC with a more stringent approach outlawed possessing a chemical weapons armoury too. The 1980 UN Conference on Disarmament resulted in opening of the CWC talks forcing the convention into action in 1997. It is a multilateral treaty of an unending duration, banning the chemical weapons and requiring their termination within a definite timeline. The CWC maintains written records of chemical weapons stockpiles of its member nations along with such production facilities, industries and the like hence the complete name: Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction. A signatory has to make such declarations in writing within 30 days of signing the convention.
The OPCW
OPCW’s intent is to put into effect the CWC. It is headquartered in The Hague and is in a symbiotic functional relation with the UN. Since areas of the two overlap at some points, both the organisations work harmoniously to achieve the overall objective of international peace proliferation and security. Both have a Relationship Agreement in force since 2001. The OPCW has evolved to include nearly 98% of the world territories with 98% of the world’s chemical industry under its supervision. Rest of the nations are hoped to unite under this umbrella body.
OPCW’s intent is to put into effect the CWC. It is headquartered in The Hague and is in a symbiotic functional relation with the UN. Since areas of the two overlap at some points, both the organisations work harmoniously to achieve the overall objective of international peace proliferation and security. Both have a Relationship Agreement in force since 2001. The OPCW has evolved to include nearly 98% of the world territories with 98% of the world’s chemical industry under its supervision. Rest of the nations are hoped to unite under this umbrella body.
The principal goals of OPCW are:
⇒ Destroying chemical weapons stock in entirety
⇒ Checking re-emergence of new weapons
⇒ Assisting and protecting the member states against chemical threats
⇒ Advancing international cooperation to strengthen the implementation of the Convention
⇒ Destroying chemical weapons stock in entirety
⇒ Checking re-emergence of new weapons
⇒ Assisting and protecting the member states against chemical threats
⇒ Advancing international cooperation to strengthen the implementation of the Convention
Conference of the States Parties: The Conference of the States Parties is the primary policy-making organ of the OPCW. It meets yearly and also under demanding circumstances and comprises of all the Member States. Being the main body, it oversees not only the implementation of the convention but also the working of the Council and the Secretariat.
Executive Council of OPCW: It consists of 41 members who are elected by the Conference of State Parties for tenure of two years and provides equal serving rights to each member state. As per the mandates of the Convention the council is constituted abiding by the principle of equitable geographical distribution, taking into account the political and security interests as well as the importance of the chemical industry. It first session was conducted on 23 May, 1997 with the effective implementation of CWC and the 75th Session of the Executive Council has been scheduled from 4th – 7th March 2014.
The Technical Secretariat: The Secretariat is headed by the Director General and has to support the Conference of the States Parties (Conference) and the Executive Council (Council). Its primary task is to execute the verification measures.
History of Chemical Wars: World Wars I and II were witnesses to several such heinous episodes. Germans attacked French, Canadian and Algerian troops with chlorine gas during WWI. The Imperial Japanese Army used blister agents on the Chinese during WWII. Saddam Hussein conducted chemical attacks during Iran-Iraq war (The Halabja Chemical Attack of 1988 - where Iraq used mustard gas and nerve agents against Kurdish residents of Halabja). Bleach balloons (balloons filled with bleach instead of water) were thrown at Asians and Blacks at several incidents of racism. Sarin attack in Tokyo Subway is also a notorious and drastic incident known in history of chemical attacks.
India, taking it’s propitiative stand, signed the CWC on Jan 14, 1993 which subsequently entered into force on April 29, 1997. Syria’s accession will change the Middle East dynamics. Egypt, alone out of Syria’s neighbours, remains a non-party to CWC. This accession will increase the likelihood of other nations joining the CWC too.
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