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14 October 2004

U.S. Supports Libyan Proposal to Convert Weapons Facility

Chemical weapons plant would be converted to pharmaceutical use

The United States supports a Libyan request for a technical change in the Chemical Weapons Convention, allowing Libya to convert a chemical weapons facility into a pharmaceutical plant to produce medications to fight HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis for use in Africa.

"We strongly support redirecting this equipment to pharmaceutical production for the benefit of the developing world," said a State Department spokesman in an October 13 statement.

Under the current provisions of the convention, Libya would be required to raze its facility at Rabta. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons will decide whether to accept the proposed change in the convention within the coming week.

Following is the statement from the State Department spokesman:

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
October 13, 2004

QUESTION TAKEN AT THE OCTOBER 13, 2004 DAILY PRESS BRIEFING

Strong United States Support for Libyan Chemical Weapons Convention Request

Question: Is the United States in support of a change to the Chemical Weapons Convention requested by Libya? What does the United States want to see changed?

Answer: The United States is very supportive of Libya's request for a technical change to the Chemical Weapons Convention to allow for conversion of the chemical weapons production facility at Rabta. Libya wants to use some of the equipment and buildings from this chemical weapons facility to produce low-cost pharmaceuticals to treat HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis for use mainly in Africa.

Under the Chemical Weapons Convention, Libya would normally be required to raze these buildings to the ground and destroy all equipment. Libya has proposed a "technical change" (a minor change that does not rise to the level of an amendment) to the Chemical Weapons Convention that would allow for conversion of this facility to peaceful uses. Seventeen States Parties, including the U.S., co-sponsored the proposal.

The U.S. supports the proposal both because it makes sense in this particular instance -- we strongly support redirecting this equipment to pharmaceutical production for the benefit of the developing world -- and because it provides a means of dealing with similar situations if they arise in the future. The process of conversion, and the facility once converted, will be subject to international verification to ensure that no materials are misused for chemical weapons purposes. The Executive Council -- the 41-member executive body of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, which implements the treaty -- must decide this week whether to endorse the proposed technical change. Our Ambassador made a strong statement October 12 explaining our position and urging other Executive Council members to support the proposal.

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