Convention must not limit chemical industry<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas asserted
\nhere yesterday that the enforcement of the pending Chemical
\nWeapons Convention must not be to the detriment of the growth of
\nchemical industries in developing nations.<\/p>\n
Opening an Asia-Pacific region seminar on national
\nimplementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, Alatas noted a
\ntrend in certain countries to subjectively inhibit the flow of
\nchemical trade.<\/p>\n
\"Some developed countries have begun to implement controls on
\ntrade in chemicals in the name of disarmament that may adversely
\naffect developing countries,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He warned of the need for protective measures to ensure that
\nthe benevolent motive of arms control is not exploited for other
\npurposes.<\/p>\n
\"The need for safeguards on the legitimate right of developing
\ncountries to full access to chemistry technology and chemicals
\nfor peaceful purposes is a vital concern that must be carefully
\naddressed,\" Alatas said.<\/p>\n
Some 150 participants from 32 countries are attending the
\nthree-day conference at the foreign ministry building here.<\/p>\n
The conference is aimed at preparing states in the region for
\nthe implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention which is
\ntargeted for execution by the middle of next year.<\/p>\n
Participants will discuss issues relating to the execution of
\nthis new convention such as verification and the establishment of
\na permanent organization for the prohibition of chemical weapons.<\/p>\n
The Chemical Weapons Convention came into being when 130
\ncountries signed the document in 1993.<\/p>\n
The Convention was produced after a lengthy process, which
\nbegan when the 40-nation Conference on Disarmament established an
\nAd-Hoc Committee on Chemical Weapons in 1980, which began
\ndrafting the final document over a decade ago.<\/p>\n
Alatas said that even during the preparatory process of the
\ndocument the developing countries had expressed fear that the
\nConvention could be used to hinder access to chemical technology.<\/p>\n
Li Chang-he, deputy executive secretary of the Preparatory
\nCommission for the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical
\nWeapons, seemed to lessen the fears when he said that the
\nConvention would bring tangible benefits to signatory states.<\/p>\n
\"The Convention will facilitate the fullest possible exchange
\nof chemicals, equipment and scientific information relating to
\nthe application and development of chemistry for legitimate
\npeaceful purposes,\" Li said.<\/p>\n
He added, as an enticement for countries to promptly ratify
\nthe Convention, that those who did so in time would enjoy
\nunimpeded trade in chemicals while those who failed would face
\n\"gradual trade restrictions as envisaged in the Convention\".<\/p>\n
Ratification<\/p>\n
Out of the now 158 countries to sign the Convention, a mere 16
\nhave ratified it. The original projections of two years from
\nsigning to implementation have had to be scrapped.<\/p>\n
Indonesia itself, despite being an original signatory and an
\nadvocate of the Convention, has yet to ratify it.<\/p>\n
\"Hopefully by the first quarter of next year we will have
\nratified it,\" Alatas said.<\/p>\n
He said that the original projection of two years was \"not
\nrealistic\" because, as Indonesia has found out, the Convention
\ncovers a great many details and requires the coaching of other
\nministries.<\/p>\n
He elaborated that the foreign ministry has embarked on
\nseveral information sessions with various departments and
\nelements of the chemical industry.<\/p>\n
One of the scheduled events for this effort is a briefing
\nduring a meeting of the Indonesian Basic Chemicals Association in
\nBukittinggi, West Sumatra, on Dec. 12.<\/p>\n
The complexity of the Convention also touches on adjustments
\nin legal areas as Li Chang-he explained: \"New legislation,
\nincluding penal provisions, may be required to prohibit actions
\noutlawed in the Convention.\"<\/p>\n
although only 16 of the required 65 countries have completed
\nratification in order to allow the implementation of the
\nConvention, both Li and Alatas remain confident that it can be
\nachieved by the middle of next year.<\/p>\n
Referring to those who refuse to sign the Convention, Alatas
\nremarked that there were a number of Middle Eastern countries
\nrefusing to sign unless Israel first signs the Nuclear Non-
\nProliferation Treaty. (mds)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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