Libyan sources have informed the OPCW that they are taking all necessary measures to control stockpiles of chemical weapons that were captured last week. These are the same stocks that were declared to the Organisation by the former regime of Muammar Qaddafi in compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). The OPCW has not been advised by the Libyan sources of the discovery of any previously undeclared stockpiles.
“It is important for the OPCW that these stockpiles are secured and misuse is prevented, and ensuring this remains a national responsibility under the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention,” said OPCW Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü. “From this perspective we welcome the fact that Libyan authorities are taking necessary measures to secure the bunkers.”
Before the outbreak of the crisis the Qaddafi regime had destroyed 55% of its declared amounts of sulfur mustard (mustard gas) and 40% of its precursor chemicals for making weapons, as well as its entire stockpile of more than 3,500 aerial bombs designed for use with chemical weapons. These activities were halted in February 2011 when the destruction facility malfunctioned, at which point the OPCW withdrew its team of inspectors until repairs could be made.
The remaining chemical weapons are stored at a military facility about 700 kilometers southeast of Tripoli. The stockpiles now consist of about 9 metric tonnes of sulphur mustard agent and over 800 metric tonnes of precursor chemicals. The new government in Tripoli, which has been recognised by the United Nations, inherits Libya’s obligations as a State Party to the CWC to destroy the remaining stockpiles in their entirety under international verification by OPCW inspectors.
The OPCW is closely monitoring developments in Libya and will be prepared to return its inspectors to the country as soon as circumstances permit. Once destruction activities are able to resume it should be possible to destroy the remaining sulfur mustard agent, which poses the biggest concern, within a month.