75th Session of the UNGA

First Committee

Explanation of Vote of India

on Draft Resolutions under “Other WMD”

4 November 2020

L.29 Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction

India has been supporting the draft resolution L.29 on “Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction” given the high importance that India attaches to the CWC and all its provisions to address concerns regarding the alleged use of chemical weapons. 

India has always maintained that any use of chemical weapons is in complete disregard of humanity, is reprehensible and contrary to the provisions of the CWC as well as accepted international norms. India is against the use of chemical weapons anywhere, at any time, by anybody, and under any circumstances. The perpetrators of such abhorrent acts must be held accountable.

India attaches great importance to upholding the integrity of the CWC and for avoiding politicization of the issues. With regard to any allegations of use and consequent measures in this regard, we believe that the provisions and procedures laid down in the Convention should be strictly adhered to by the OPCW and the concerns should be addressed on the basis of cooperation among all parties concerned.

This resolution traditionally has received consensus support. However,  it is a matter of regret that the consensus nature has been negatively affected due to inclusion of some contentious issues in its operative part. We hope that this will change for the better in the future. 

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L.65 United Nations Secretary General’s Mechanism for Investigation of Alleged Use of Chemical and Biological Weapons 

We recognize the efforts of the Russian Federation for tabling L.65. India is State Party to and attaches highest importance to the CWC, BWC, and 1925 Geneva Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare and all their provisions. India has maintained that alleged use of chemical or biological weapons should be dealt with as per the provisions of CWC and BWC.

The CWC has a comprehensive verification regime and detailed provisions to deal with any alleged use of chemical weapons. As to the BWC, India has called for negotiation of a comprehensive and legally binding Protocol, providing for an effective, universal and non-discriminatory verification mechanism.

India has always supported upholding the integrity of these Conventions and dealing with specific instances as per the provisions of these Conventions. We have underlined that any amendments to the provisions of the Convention must be carried out through the due processes as laid out in the Conventions.

India has been constrained to abstain on the resolution, as India believes that matters relating to the alleged use of chemical or biological weapons should be addressed within the framework of  respective Conventions, for which CWC already has provisions. India would like to reiterate its call for negotiating a verification protocol for the BWC, which in our view, is the only way to strengthen the norm and verification process against the use of biological weapons.

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L.52 Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin weapons and on their destruction

India attaches high importance to the BWC as the first global and non-discriminatory disarmament Convention, prohibiting an entire category of weapons of mass destruction. 

India has underlined that financial stability of the Convention is essential for its full and effective implementation. India urges  all State Parties to make their annual assessed contributions in full and in time. As to the Working Capital Fund, India has maintained that such a Working Capital Fund must be established through assessed contributions by States Parties and not through voluntary contributions. A similar Working Capital Fund has been  established in the OPCW through assessed contributions. Furthermore, India maintains that the budget of BWC must be supported through contributions by States Parties and not  by non-State entities. India looks forward to the review of the decision on the establishment of the Working Capital Fund by the Ninth Review Conference of BWC scheduled to take place next year.

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