§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is his Department's latest assessment of the capability of Russia to destroy safely its stockpile of chemical weapons; [18280]
(2) what is his Department's latest assessment of the capability of the United States of America to destroy safely its stockpile of chemical weapons. [18279]
§ Mr. SoamesThe Russian Federation signed the chemical weapons convention in the full knowledge of the destruction timetable it would be obliged to meet under the terms of the convention. However, Russia has yet to ratify the convention and, until it does so, it is not bound by these provisions. Although Russian fulfilment of these obligations is feasible, some technical difficulties are still to be overcome. The Russians also claim that they would not be able to do so due to financial and environmental problems, and continue to press for outside financial assistance. The UK believes it is for the Russian Government to resolve these difficulties. Early ratification of the CWC and full implementation of its provisions, may, however, help to secure financial assistance from the outside.
Although the United States has not yet ratified the chemical weapons convention, it is obliged by national legislation to destroy its stockpile of chemical weapons by 2004. This date is earlier than will be required if the US ratifies the CWC before entry into force. We have no reason to believe that the United States does not have the capability or political will to meet this goal.