First Summit of the African Union, Durban, South Africa, 9-10 July 2002

The 38th Session of the Organisation for African Unity adopted Decision AHG/Dec. 181 (XXXVIII) on the Implementation and Universality of the Chemical Weapons Convention. Through that Decision, the Assembly of the African Union TAKES NOTE of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of the Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction (hereinafter the Convention) that aims to achieve the effective prohibition of the development, production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons and their destruction; RECALLS United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/55/33 of 20 November 2000 which notes with appreciation the ongoing work to achieve the objective and purpose of the Convention, to ensure the full implementation of its provisions and to provide a forum for consultation and cooperation among States Parties; ALSO RECALLS the steadfast position of Africa regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction and in particular to the Pelindaba Treaty; ACKNOWLEDGES the conclusions and recommendations of the workshop devoted to Africa on the Chemical Weapons Convention held in Khartoum, the Sudan, from 9 to 11 March 2002; WELCOMES the recommendation for an effective implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention in Africa through sustained technical assistance from the Technical Secretariat of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons; ENCOURAGES the call to achieve universality of the Chemical Weapons Convention in Africa; REQUESTS the Secretary General to inform Council, at its regular sessions, of developments regarding the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention and the progress made on the issue of universality.