Convention must not limit chemical industry

Convention must not limit chemical industry

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas asserted
here yesterday that the enforcement of the pending Chemical
Weapons Convention must not be to the detriment of the growth of
chemical industries in developing nations.

Opening an Asia-Pacific region seminar on national
implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, Alatas noted a
trend in certain countries to subjectively inhibit the flow of
chemical trade.

"Some developed countries have begun to implement controls on
trade in chemicals in the name of disarmament that may adversely
affect developing countries," he said.

He warned of the need for protective measures to ensure that
the benevolent motive of arms control is not exploited for other
purposes.

"The need for safeguards on the legitimate right of developing
countries to full access to chemistry technology and chemicals
for peaceful purposes is a vital concern that must be carefully
addressed," Alatas said.

Some 150 participants from 32 countries are attending the
three-day conference at the foreign ministry building here.

The conference is aimed at preparing states in the region for
the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention which is
targeted for execution by the middle of next year.

Participants will discuss issues relating to the execution of
this new convention such as verification and the establishment of
a permanent organization for the prohibition of chemical weapons.

The Chemical Weapons Convention came into being when 130
countries signed the document in 1993.

The Convention was produced after a lengthy process, which
began when the 40-nation Conference on Disarmament established an
Ad-Hoc Committee on Chemical Weapons in 1980, which began
drafting the final document over a decade ago.

Alatas said that even during the preparatory process of the
document the developing countries had expressed fear that the
Convention could be used to hinder access to chemical technology.

Li Chang-he, deputy executive secretary of the Preparatory
Commission for the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical
Weapons, seemed to lessen the fears when he said that the
Convention would bring tangible benefits to signatory states.

"The Convention will facilitate the fullest possible exchange
of chemicals, equipment and scientific information relating to
the application and development of chemistry for legitimate
peaceful purposes," Li said.

He added, as an enticement for countries to promptly ratify
the Convention, that those who did so in time would enjoy
unimpeded trade in chemicals while those who failed would face
"gradual trade restrictions as envisaged in the Convention".

Ratification

Out of the now 158 countries to sign the Convention, a mere 16
have ratified it. The original projections of two years from
signing to implementation have had to be scrapped.

Indonesia itself, despite being an original signatory and an
advocate of the Convention, has yet to ratify it.

"Hopefully by the first quarter of next year we will have
ratified it," Alatas said.

He said that the original projection of two years was "not
realistic" because, as Indonesia has found out, the Convention
covers a great many details and requires the coaching of other
ministries.

He elaborated that the foreign ministry has embarked on
several information sessions with various departments and
elements of the chemical industry.

One of the scheduled events for this effort is a briefing
during a meeting of the Indonesian Basic Chemicals Association in
Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, on Dec. 12.

The complexity of the Convention also touches on adjustments
in legal areas as Li Chang-he explained: "New legislation,
including penal provisions, may be required to prohibit actions
outlawed in the Convention."

although only 16 of the required 65 countries have completed
ratification in order to allow the implementation of the
Convention, both Li and Alatas remain confident that it can be
achieved by the middle of next year.

Referring to those who refuse to sign the Convention, Alatas
remarked that there were a number of Middle Eastern countries
refusing to sign unless Israel first signs the Nuclear Non-
Proliferation Treaty. (mds)