FAS Launches Online Chemical Weapons Convention Archive to Mark 2nd Review Conference

FAS Launches Online Chemical Weapons Convention Archive to Mark 2nd Review Conference

Today the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) launches an online compilation of more than 500 documents on the U.S. ratification of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). The Archive includes a timeline of CWC negotiations, a history of its signing and ratification, and current news and commentary on the CWC.

Cheryl Vos, FAS Biology Research Associate, will report daily from The Hague during the Second Review Conference, 7 – 18 April 2008, on the proceedings, plenary sessions and open forum.

The online archive’s “Document of the Day” feature will kick off with a letter submitted by former Secretary of Defense and current Vice President Dick Cheney to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The letter expresses Cheney’s deep opposition to U.S. ratification of the Chemical Weapons Convention and was read into the record by former Secretary of Defense James Schlesinger who, along with fellow former Secretaries of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Caspar Weinberger, was present at the Committee hearing to provide testimony against the CWC.

“This website provides a much needed archive for documents, letters, and analysis of the Chemical Weapons Convention,” said Michael Stebbins, director of the biosecurity program at FAS. “It’s astonishing to read the vehement language used by our vice president urging Congress to reject the Chemical Weapons Convention.”

The CWC entered into force on April 29, 1997. The archive highlights accomplishments over the past 11 years, and arguments made for and against U.S. ratification in Congress. Many of the letters, petitions and reports have not been previously available online.

Visit the Chemical Weapons Convention Archive today.