Verification Practice Under the Chemical Weapons Convention

Book excerpt: This Commentary on the verification provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention builds on a previous publication by the same authors - A Commentary on the Chemical Weapons Convention (Kluwer 1994). It focuses on the verification regime established under the Convention and analyses the results of the preparatory phase as well as the practical experience gathered by the OPCW since the entry into force of the Chemical Weapons Convention in 1997. The book follows the methodological approach taken in the earlier publication - a paragraph by paragraph discussion of the text. It discusses those provisions which are relevant for the areas of verification where the OPCW has actually conducted inspections and thus acquired practical experience (i.e. routine inspections of chemical weapons and related facilities, and facilities related to the chemicals listed under Schedule 1 and 2). The book is intended to stimulate and enrich the debate on a number of practical as well as legal issues that have emerged during the practical implementation. It will be of interest to National Authorities and to diplomats following the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, but also to practitioners in the chemical industry and related trade associations, international lawyers and political scientists - whether specialists or generalists, and the interested public.