The government of Iraq has declared that it has deposited its instrument of accession to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction (CWC) with the Secretary-General of the United Nations on 13 January 2009. Within 30 days, on 12 February 2009, Iraq will become the 186th State Party to the Convention.

On 14 January 1993 Turkey signed the Convention, which was opened for signature on 13 January 1993 and ratified it on 12 May 1997. The Convention entered into force on 11 June 1997.

In view of its security and foreign policy principles, Turkey attaches importance to arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; actively participates in international efforts in this context and supports the universalization of the international agreements and arrangements to which it is a party. In this regard, we very much welcome our neighbour Iraq’s accession to the CWC.