14 January 2009
Statement on Iraq’s Accession to Chemical Weapons Convention, January 14, 2009(U.S. welcomes Iraq’s decision, looks forward to weapons elimination)
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
January 14, 2009
STATEMENT BY SEAN MCCORMACK, SPOKESMAN
Iraq’s Accession to the Chemical Weapons Convention
The United States welcomes Iraq’s decision to become the newest party to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which will become effective on February 12, 2009. Iraq will be the 186th member of the CWC’s Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), leaving only 9 states as non-members. This is an historic decision by the new Iraq government to join the international community in efforts to eliminate all chemical weapons and their production facilities. The United States has supported Iraq in its preparation to join the CWC and will continue to assist Iraq with its implementation. We welcome Iraq into the OPCW and look forward to working with Iraq in moving closer to the complete elimination of chemical weapons programs throughout the world.
