WORLD

THE HAGUE, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Developed and developing countries on Monday voiced different opinions over the way forward for the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) after 10 years of its entry into force.

At an annual conference of the CWC member states, developed countries called for rapid national implementation of the convention, while developing countries asked for access to technology and international cooperation in chemical industry.

"It is fundamental to ensure the removal of and to prevent the imposition of any discriminatory restriction on access to materials, equipment and technology required by developing states parties for their continued and peaceful development," said a joint statement of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and China.

"In this context, the NAM CWC states parties and China reiterate their call to developed countries to promote international cooperation through the transfer of technology, material and equipment for peaceful purposes in the chemical field and to remove all and any discriminatory restrictions," said the statement read by Oscar De Los Reyes Ramos, Cuba's permanent representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

A European Union statement complained, however, about the slow pace of the implementation of Article VII of the CWC, which covers national implementation, including legislative and administrative measures.

"Full compliance with Article VII is a vital factor for the present and future efficiency of the CWC regime," said the statement read by Portuguese representative to the OPCW, Julio Mascarenhas.

Washington also expressed concern over the fact that a small number of countries have not taken "meaningful steps" to meet their obligations under Article VII.

"Article VII requires all states to implement the convention fully, which typically requires an array of laws, regulations and procedures," said U.S. permanent representative to the OPCW, Eric Javits, in a statement.

Consultations are under way for decisions on Article VII and Article XI at this year's conference, officials said.

Developed and developing countries agreed on universality of the CWC membership. They all urged those countries that have not joined the convention to do so without delay.

So far 182 countries have become member states of the CWC, leaving only 13 outside.

The CWC is an international disarmament treaty which bans the development, production, stockpiling, transfer and use of chemical weapons.

The OPCW, with its headquarters in The Hague, is mandated to oversee the implementation of the chemical weapons treaty.

In the past 10 years, a third of the world's declared stockpile of approximately 71,000 metric tons of chemical agent has been verifiably destroyed. Albania became the first country in the world which has completed destruction of chemical weapons stockpile.

The annual conference is the decision-making body of the OPCW. Last year's conference decided to postpone the deadline for the destruction of all chemical weapons stockpiles until April 2012.

Editor: Yan Liang