Lebanon Bans Chemical Weapons
Lebanon has reportedly become the 185th signatory to the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention. Reports state that documents signed on Friday secure Lebanon’s name of the list of nations that want to ban chemical weapon usage.
“The government of Lebanon deposited its instrument of accession to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) with the Secretary-General of the United Nations,” the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said in a statement. “Upon official confirmation of receipt of the instrument by the United Nations, the Convention will enter into force for Lebanon 30 days after the deposit and this country will become the 185th State Party to the CWC.”
Lebanon’s addition to the list brings the Chemical Weapons Convention closer to the goal of having the 10 remaining nations who have yet to sign the agreement to do so without delay. Within the Middle East, nations such as Egypt, Syria and Israel, have yet to sign. OPCW Director-General Rogelio Pfirter stated that back in April he had hopes of Lebanon signing up to the treaty in the near future.
Venus Vahedi
