Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has approved the year of 1012 as the maximal term for destroying chemical weapons in Russia and the USA. It was noted on 9 April, as reported by ITAR-TASS, by Grigorij Rapota, the Chairman of the National Committee of the RF on chemical disarmament at the meeting of the National Committee earmarked for the implementation of the third stage of the national programme on the destruction of chemical weapons and the role of international cooperation in this particular sphere.

According to his words, the International Organisation for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons set the maximal term for Russia and the USA because the two states are in the possession of the largest resources of this weapon of mass destruction.

He has also noted that all states parties to the Convention have presented plans on the destruction of the resources of chemical weapons in their countries.

Currently, South Korea, ahead of the planned schedule, has completed the implementation of its obligations in destroying chemical weapons. India is close to the stage of completion of its obligations. The deadline for the destruction of all available resources in India is set for September of this year, and India has already destroyed over 99% of poisonous substances.

By now Russia is in the third stage of the implementation of its federal objective programme “Destruction of resources of chemical weapons in the Russian Federation”. Within the framework of this stage of the programme Russia is bound by 29 December this year to destroy no less than 18 thousand tons (45%) of its resources of chemical weapons. According to the data for 20 March Russia has destroyed 30.1% of military poisonous substances (12 thousand tons). Some more than 5 thousand tons are left to be destroyed by 29 December.

Material has been prepared by the Centre of Geopolitical Studies with reference to the article from “NEWSru.com“ of 9 April 2009.

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