THOMAS DINANNO, SENIOR BUREAU OFFICIAL AND DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR DEFENSE POLICY, EMERGING THREATS, AND OUTREACH
BUREAU OF ARMS CONTROL, VERIFICATION AND COMPLIANCE

U.S. NATIONAL STATEMENT, OPCW CONFERENCE OF THE STATES PARTIES

THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS

Mr. Chairman, Mr. Director-General, distinguished ambassadors and delegates,

In April 2017, President Trump stated, “it is in the vital national security interests of the United States to prevent and deter the spread and use of deadly chemical weapons.” The United States has made it a priority to restore deterrence against the use of chemical weapons and has made clear its national security importance. Last year at the June 2018 special session of the Conference of the States Parties (CSP) and again in November 2018, States Parties made clear with their votes that together we are willing to take action to stop and deter further CW use.

The United States is encouraged by the overwhelming support of States Parties through their votes and voluntary funding contributions to prevent further CW use and restore CW deterrence, including critical voluntary funding to the new OPCW Centre for Technology and Chemistry and to the OPCW’s Syria Trust Fund, which includes funding for the Investigation and Identification Team. If we are to succeed in restoring deterrence against CW use and driving chemical weapons use down to zero, we must continue to support the tireless, brave and noble efforts of the Technical Secretariat.

The United States believes that it is imperative to support new OPCW initiatives; to call out States Parties for their non-compliance; and to push for States Parties to be held accountable for non-compliance. In doing so, we seek to dissuade and prevent other States Parties from violating the Convention.

Mr. Chairman,

It is essential to support new initiatives to strengthen the Convention, and the United States is taking active steps to do so. In response to the Salisbury and Amesbury incidents, the United States, Canada, and the Netherlands jointly submitted a proposal (known as the Joint Technical Change Proposal) to add two chemical families to Schedule 1 of the CWC Annex of Chemicals. I call on States Parties to adopt the draft CSP decision by consensus, so that implementation can begin. The United States also can join consensus in the adoption of the Russian set of proposals to add chemicals to the CWC Annex of Chemicals. We believe these two proposals can be adopted at this CSP in parallel, by consensus, with “a single bang of the gavel.” By their addition, further development and use of deadly novichok weapons will be deterred and prevented.

A second initiative that the United States recently has undertaken is not new, but it is necessary. The United States, Australia, Switzerland and 21 additional co-sponsors have spearheaded an initiative to adopt a set of decisions making clear States Parties’ understanding that under the CWC the aerosolized use of CNS-acting chemicals is inconsistent with law enforcement as a “purpose not prohibited.” This set of decisions neither imposes new obligations on States Parties nor requires any changes to the Convention; instead it makes clear States Parties’ understanding that such use is impermissible under the CWC. I call on States Parties who have not yet cosponsored this initiative to join us and together, we can work to ensure that there is no use of CNS-acting chemicals as chemical weapons.

Mr. Chairman,

It is also crucial to call out non-compliance with the Convention to make clear such behavior is not acceptable, and to prevent further malign behavior. Last year, the United States announced its assessment oflran’s non-compliance with the CWC in its national statement to the CWC’s Fourth Review Conference. The United States highlighted its assessment that the Russian Federation violated the CWC when it used a military grade nerve agent in an assassination attempt in the UK. Further, we remind States Parties that the Syrian regime has used chemical weapons systematically and repeatedly against the Syrian people every year since acceding to the Convention. The United States will not allow these violations to go unchallenged.

This year, the United States believes it is important to raise issues regarding Myanmar’s CWC compliance to States Parties’ attention. Based on available information, the United States certifies that Myanmar is in non-compliance with the CWC due to its failure to declare its past chemical weapons program and destroy its CW production facility. The United States assesses Myanmar had a CW program in the 1980s that included a sulfur mustard development program and chemical weapons production facility. The United States has serious concerns that a CW stockpile may remain at Myanmar’s historical CW facility.

Beginning in February 2019, the United States held bilateral discussions with Myanmar to ensure that the civilian government and its military were aware of U.S. concerns regarding its past CW program. The United States urges Myanmar to declare its past program to the OPCW, remove this potential proliferation issue, and come into compliance with the CWC. Doing so provides an opportunity for Myanmar to deepen international engagement, meet its Convention obligations, and uphold international nonproliferation efforts. The United States stands ready to assist Myanmar in its efforts, including through the provision of technical expertise. We call on others in this room to also assist in this effort.

Mr. Chairman,

It is essential for all of us to continue to work together and push for accountability for CW use. As such, I call on all States Parties to agree to the proposed OPCW 2020 Programme and Budget, which includes the work of the Investigation and Identification Team. This team has been tasked, by States Parties, to “identify the perpetrators of the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic.” Once the lIT has finished its work and releases its findings, it will be up to States Parties to review the findings and to take action, both here and at the United Nations.

The United States is proud of what States Parties and the OPCW together have accomplished. I think we all agree there is more to do to try to move toward a world free of chemical weapons and to drive chemical weapons use to zero. In this way, we strengthen the Convention.

Mr. Chairman,

I request that this statement be considered an official document of the twenty-fourth session of the Conference of the States Parties and posted on the external server and the public website.

Thank you and good afternoon.