Chemical Weapons Convention

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  Pentagon Report Flags China's "Dual-Use Biological Activities"

  China has engaged in biological activities with potential dual-use applications, which raise concerns regarding its compliance with the Biological and Toxins Weapons Convention (BWC) and the Chemical Weapons Convention, the Pentagon said.

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  Russia To Destroy All Of Its Chemical Weapons By End Of 2017

  A top Russian official says Russia will destroy all of its chemical weapons by the end of next year, a year earlier than previously announced.

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  Myanmar Joins Chemical Weapons Organisation

  Myanmar has ratified the chemical weapons convention and will become the 191st member of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the body said today, another step in a rapid period of reform for the Asian country.

• What is the OPCW and what does it do?

  The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons was thrust into the spotlight when it was required to oversee the destruction of chemical weapons in Syria, but it has been working since the 1990s as the body that implements the Chemical Weapons Convention, the first international treaty to outlaw an entire class of weapons.

• Syria makes "excellent" start on chemical disarmament, says official

  Syria won foreign praise today for starting to destroy its chemical arsenal, although an opposition activist said the world was merely giving President Bashar al-Assad time to kill more people with conventional weapons.

• Syria committed to chemical weapons deal: Bashar al-Assad

  Syria is committed to the convention against chemical weapons it signed under a US-Russian deal and sees "no obstacles" to its implementation, President Bashar al-Assad said in an interview broadcast today.

• Syria's chemical arms treaty application accepted by the United Nations

  The United Nations formally accepted Syria's application to join the chemical weapons convention, a spokeswoman said.

• Syria's decision to hand over weapons makes US strike 'unnecessary': Russia

  Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Syria's decision to hand over chemical weapons and joining the treaty banning them would make US strikes against the country "unnecessary."

• Syria used chemical weapons against rebel fighters in Damascus, claims French media

  Syrian forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad have repeatedly used chemical weapons against rebel fighters in Damascus, according to first-hand accounts in France's Le Monde newspaper.

• United Nations urges Syria to let in chemical weapons experts

  United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appealed to Syria again Monday to allow experts into the country without delay or conditions to investigate allegations of chemical weapons use, saying this is a "crucial moment" to get the team on the ground.

• Lok Sabha passes chemical weapons, AIIMS bills

  The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed a bill for regulating chemical weapons in accordance with international convention and another to set up more AIIMS-like institutes amidst opposition din demanding prime minister's resignation.