CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (U.S. Alert) Febuary 97
Within the next few months, it is expected that the US Senate will vote on whether or not to ratify the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). The CWC is an international treaty that bans the production, acquisition, stockpiling, transfer, and use of chemical weapons. Under the CWC, countries will also destroy all existing chemical weapons and production facilities. International inspections and verification systems will ensure compliance with these provisions. Nations not joining the CWC will be penalized through international trade restrictions and will be excluded from planning the treaty's verification and monitoring rules.
The CWC was negotiated and signed by President Bush. It is endorsed by President Clinton and supported by the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Secretary of Defense. Public opinion polls show that 77% of the public supports passage of the CWC. Even the US chemical industry actively participated in developing the CWC's provisions. According to Fred Webber, President and CEO of the Chemical Manufacturers Association, "The CWC makes good business sense and good public policy, Our request is simple: Pass the CWC."
Sixty-five countries have already ratified the CWC. The treaty will go into force on April 29, 1997. The US Senate, however, has not yet ratified this important treaty. Last year, Presidential hopeful Robert Dole lobbied against the CWC right before its vote in the Senate. Supporters of the treaty then had to cancel the vote because they feared that the treaty would not pass with the required two-thirds majority. Passage is still not certain. Opponents of the CWC include Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC), Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, which oversees this issue.
Ratification of the CWC will also help pave the way for passage of other important treaties, including the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban treaty (CTB) which is expected to come up for a vote in the Senate later this year.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Call or write to one or both of your Senators. Ask each of them to vote to ratify the CWC and to do everything in their power to see that this important treaty is passed by the Senate before the April 29th deadline.
Write to your Senator at: US Senate Washington, DC 20510.
Capitol Switchboard: 202 225-3121 (ask for your Senator's office)
If time allows, please also write a letter to the editor of one or more newspapers on this important issue publicly urging your Senators to vote for ratification of the CWC.