Resolution adopted by the General Assembly  on 4 December 2023      [on the report of the First Committee (A/78/409, para. 89)]        78/29. Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the  Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical  Weapons and on Their Destruction        The General Assembly,    Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject of chemical weapons, in  particular resolution 77/73 of 7 December 2022,    Determined to achieve the effective prohibition of the development, production,  acquisition, transfer, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons and their destruction,    Honouring the memory of and paying tribute to all victims of chemical weapons,    Reaffirming its strong support for the Convention on the Prohibition of the  Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their  Destruction1 and for the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and  its deep appreciation of the Organisation, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize  for 2013 for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons,    Recalling decisions C-24/DEC.4 and C-24/DEC.5 of 27 November 2019  adopted by the Conference of the States Parties at its twenty-fourth session,  introducing changes to schedules 1 (A) and 1, respectively, of the Annex on Chemicals  to the Convention,    Re-emphasizing its unequivocal support for the decision of the Director General  of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to continue the mission  to establish the facts surrounding the allegations of the use of chemical weapons,  __________________    1 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1974, No. 33757.   A/RES/78/29  Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the  Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical  Weapons and on Their Destruction   23-24537 2/7    including toxic chemicals, for hostile purposes in the Syrian Arab Republic, while  stressing that the safety and security of mission personnel remains the top priority, and  recalling the work, pursuant to Security Council resolutions 2235 (2015) of 7 August  2015 and 2319 (2016) of 17 November 2016, of the Joint Investigative Mechanism of  the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the United Nations,    Recalling the work related to the Fourth Special Session of the Conference of  the States Parties to Review the Operation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, held  in The Hague from 21 to 30 November 2018,    Noting the work related to the Fifth Special Session of the Conference of the  States Parties to Review the Operation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, held in  The Hague from 15 to 19 May 2023,    Reaffirming the importance of the outcome of the Third Special Session of the  Conference of the States Parties to Review the Operation of the Chemical Weapons  Convention, held in The Hague from 8 to 19 April 2013 (the Third Review  Conference), including its consensus final report, in which the Conference addressed  all aspects of the Convention and made important recommendations on its continued  implementation,    Emphasizing that the Third Review Conference welcomed the fact that the  Convention is a unique multilateral agreement banning an entire category of weapons  of mass destruction in a non-discriminatory and verifiable manner under strict and  effective international control and noted with satisfaction that the Convention  continues to be a remarkable success and an example of effective multilateralism,    Recalling that 29 April 2022 marked the twenty-fifth anniversary of the entry  into force of the Convention,    Convinced that the Convention, 26 years after its entry into force, has reinforced  its role as the international norm against chemical weapons, and that it constitutes a  major contribution to:    (a)  International peace and security,    (b)  Eliminating chemical weapons and preventing their re-emergence,    (c)  The ultimate objective of general and complete disarmament under strict  and effective international control,    (d)  Excluding completely, for the sake of all mankind, the possibility of the  use of chemical weapons,    (e)  Promoting international cooperation and exchange in scientific and  technical information in the field of chemical activities among States parties for  peaceful purposes in order to enhance the economic and technological development  of all States parties,    Noting the efforts to ensure the effectiveness of the Organisation for the  Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and its business continuity in all circumstances,  drawing lessons from the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19),    1.  Reaffirms its condemnation in the strongest possible terms of the use of  chemical weapons by anyone under any circumstances, emphasizing that any use of  chemical weapons anywhere, at any time, by anyone, under any circumstances is  unacceptable and is and would be a violation of international law and expressing its  strong conviction that those individuals responsible for the use of chemical weapons  must and should be held accountable;    2.  Condemns in the strongest possible terms the use of a toxic chemical as a  weapon against Alexei Navalny in the Russian Federation, and notes with grave   Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the  Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical  Weapons and on Their Destruction  A/RES/78/29   3/7 23-24537    concern the note by the Technical Secretariat of the Organisation for the Prohibition  of Chemical Weapons of 6 October 2020 on the summary of the report on activities  carried out in support of a request for technical assistance by Germany; 2    3.  Also condemns in the strongest possible terms that chemical weapons have  since 2012 been used in Iraq, Malaysia, the Syrian Arab Republic and the United  Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, including as reported by the Joint  Investigative Mechanism of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical  Weapons and the United Nations and by the Investigation and Identification Team of  the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in:    (a)  The reports of the Joint Investigative Mechanism of 24 August 20163 and  21 October 2016,4 which concluded that there was sufficient information to determine  that the Syrian Arab Armed Forces were responsible for the attacks which released  toxic substances in Talmenes, Syrian Arab Republic, on 21 April 2014, in Sarmin,  Syrian Arab Republic, on 16 March 2015, and in Qmenas, Syrian Arab Republic, also  on 16 March 2015, and that the so-called “Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant” used  sulfur mustard in Marea, Syrian Arab Republic, on 21 August 2015;    (b)  The report of the Joint Investigative Mechanism of 26 October 2017, 5  which concluded that there was sufficient information to be confident that Islamic  State in Iraq and the Levant was responsible for the use of sulfur mustard at Umm  Hawsh on 15 and 16 September 2016 and that the Syrian Arab Republic was  responsible for the release of sarin at Khan Shaykhun on 4 April 2017;    (c)  The first report of the Investigation and Identification Team, of 8 April  2020,6 which concluded that there were reasonable grounds to believe that the Syrian  Arab Air Force used chemical weapons in Ltamenah on 24, 25 and 30 March 2017;    (d)  The second report of the Investigation and Identification Team, of 12 April  2021,7 which concluded that there were reasonable grounds to believe that a military  helicopter of the Syrian Arab Air Force carried out a chemical weapons attack on  Saraqib on 4 February 2018;     (e)  The third report of the Investigation and Identification Team, of 27 January  2023,8 which concluded that there were reasonable grounds to believe that the Syrian  Arab Air Force carried out a chemical weapons attack on 7 April 2018 in Duma,  Syrian Arab Republic;   and demands that the perpetrators be held accountable;     4.  Takes note with great concern in that regard of the reports of the fact- finding mission of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons  regarding alleged incidents in Ltamenah, 9  Saraqib 10  and Duma, 11  Syrian Arab  Republic, as well as reports regarding the alleged incidents in Marea 12  and Kafr  Zayta,13 Syrian Arab Republic, which concluded there were reasonable grounds to  __________________    2 S/1906/2020.    3 See S/2016/738/Rev.1.    4 See S/2016/888.    5 See S/2017/904, annex.    6 See S/2020/310, annex.    7 See S/2021/371, annex.    8  See S/2023/81, annex.    9 See S/2017/931, annex, and S/2018/620, annex.    10 See S/2018/478, annex.    11 See S/2019/208, annex.    12 See S/2022/85, annex.    13 See S/2022/116, annex.   A/RES/78/29  Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the  Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical  Weapons and on Their Destruction   23-24537 4/7    believe that a toxic chemical or a vesicant chemical substance from 1.A.04 scheduled  chemicals under the Convention had been used as a weapon;    5.  Takes note of the report of the fact-finding mission of the Organisation for  the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons of 28 June 2023, 14  which concluded that  information obtained and analysed by the fact-finding mission did not provide  reasonable grounds to determine that chemicals were used as a weapon in the reported  incidents that occurred in Kharbit Massasneh, Syrian Arab Republic, on 7 July and  4 August 2017;    6.  Recalls the adoption of:    (a)  Decision C-SS-4/DEC.3 of the Fourth Special Session of the Conference  of the States Parties, entitled “Addressing the threat from chemical weapons use”, of  27 June 2018;    (b)  Decision EC-94/DEC.2 of the Executive Council, entitled “Addressing the  possession and use of chemical weapons by the Syrian Arab Republic”, of 9 July 2020;    (c)  Decision C-25/DEC.9 of the Conference of the States Parties, entitled  “Addressing the possession and use of chemical weapons by the Syrian Arab  Republic”, of 21 April 2021;  and stresses the importance of their implementation, in accordance with the  Convention, and, accordingly, expresses concern with the conclusions contained in  the report of the Director General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical  Weapons of 14 October 2020 on the implementation of decision EC-94/DEC.2;15    7.  Also recalls decision C-26/DEC.10 of the Conference of the States Parties,  entitled “Understanding regarding the aerosolised use of central nervous system- acting chemicals for law enforcement purposes”, of 1 December 2021;    8.  Emphasizes that the universality of the Convention is essential to  achieving its object and purpose and to enhancing the security of States parties, as  well as to international peace and security, underlines the fact that the objectives of  the Convention will not be fully realized as long as there remains even a single State  not party to the Convention that could possess or acquire such weapons, calls upon  all States that have not yet done so to become parties to the Convention without delay,  and in this regard recalls the outcome of the Third Special Session of the Conference  of the States Parties to Review the Operation of the Chemical Weapons Convention  (the Third Review Conference);    9.  Underlines the fact that the full, effective and non-discriminatory  implementation of all articles of the Convention makes a major contribution to  international peace and security through the elimination of existing stockpiles of  chemical weapons and the prohibition of their acquisition and use, and provides for  assistance and protection in the event of use or threat of use of chemical weapons and  for international cooperation for peaceful purposes in the field of chemical activities;    10. Notes the impact of scientific and technological progress on the effective  implementation of the Convention and the importance for the Organisation for the  Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and its policymaking organs of taking due account  of such developments;    11.  Reaffirms that the obligation of the States parties to complete the  destruction of chemical weapons stockpiles and the destruction or conversion of  chemical weapons production facilities in accordance with the provisions of the  __________________    14 See S/2023/508, annex.    15 EC-96/DG.1.   Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the  Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical  Weapons and on Their Destruction  A/RES/78/29   5/7 23-24537    Convention and the Annex on Implementation and Verification (Verification Annex)  and under the verification of the Technical Secretariat of the Organisation for the  Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is essential for the realization of the object and  purpose of the Convention;    12. Stresses the importance to the Convention that all possessors of chemical  weapons, chemical weapons production facilities or chemical weapons development  facilities, including previously declared possessor States, should be among the States  parties to the Convention, and welcomes progress to that end;    13. Recalls that the Third Review Conference expressed concern regarding the  statement made by the Director General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of  Chemical Weapons in his report to the Executive Council of the Organisation at its  sixty-eighth session, provided in accordance with paragraph 2 of decision  C-16/DEC.11 of 1 December 2011 adopted by the Conference of the States Parties at  its sixteenth session, that three possessor States parties, namely, Libya, the Russian  Federation and the United States of America, had been unable to fully meet the final  extended deadline of 29 April 2012 for the destruction of their chemical weapons  stockpiles, and also expressed determination that the destruction of all categories of  chemical weapons should be completed in the shortest time possible in accordance  with the provisions of the Convention and the Verification Annex, and with the full  application of the relevant decisions that have been taken;    14. Welcomes the confirmation by the Director General of the Organisation for  the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons expressed in his report of 5 October 2017, 16  based upon information received from the Russian Federation and independent  information received from the inspectors of the Organisation, regarding the  completion of the full destruction of chemical weapons declared by the Russian  Federation;    15. Also welcomes the completed destruction of Libya’s remaining category 2  chemical weapons, as reported by the Director General of the Organisation for the  Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in his report of 22 December 2017, 17 as well as the  completed destruction by Iraq of its entire declared stockpile of chemical weapons  remnants, as reported by the Director General in his report of 28 February 2018;18    16. Further welcomes the confirmation by the Organisation for the Prohibition  of Chemical Weapons that the last chemical munition of the declared chemical  weapons stockpile of the United States of America was irreversibly destroyed in  accordance with the Convention on 7 July 2023;    17. Underlines that the end of destruction of all declared chemical weapons  stockpiles is an important milestone for the Organisation for the Prohibition of  Chemical Weapons and a critical step towards achieving its mission to permanently  eliminate all chemical weapons;    18. Notes with concern that, along with the threat of the possible production,  acquisition and use of chemical weapons by States, the international community also  faces the danger of the production, acquisition and use of chemical weapons by  non-State actors, including terrorists, concerns which have highlighted the necessity  of achieving universal adherence to the Convention, as well as the high level of  readiness of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, and stresses  that the full and effective implementation of all provisions of the Convention,  including those on national implementation (article VII) and assistance and protection  __________________    16 EC-86/DG.31.    17 EC-87/DG.6.    18 EC-87/DG.18.   A/RES/78/29  Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the  Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical  Weapons and on Their Destruction   23-24537 6/7    (article X), constitutes an important contribution to the efforts of the United Nations  in the global fight against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations;    19. Notes that the effective application of the verification system builds  confidence in compliance with the Convention by States parties;    20. Stresses the importance of the Organisation for the Prohibition of  Chemical Weapons in verifying compliance with the provisions of the Convention as  well as in promoting the timely and efficient accomplishment of all its objectives;    21.  Expresses grave concern that, despite the verified destruction of all 27  chemical weapons production facilities declared by the Syrian Arab Republic, the  Technical Secretariat, as recently reported by the Director General in his report of  25 September 2023, 19  assesses that the Syrian Arab Republic has submitted a  declaration that still cannot be considered accurate and complete in accordance with  the Convention, Executive Council decisions EC-M-33/DEC.1 and EC-94/DEC.2 and  Security Council resolution 2118 (2013), as well as with the conclusion of decision  C-SS-4/DEC.3, of the Fourth Review Conference, that the Syrian Arab Republic failed  to declare and destroy all of its chemical weapons and chemical weapons production  facilities, and underscores the importance of such full verification;    22. Urges all States parties to the Convention to meet in full and on time their  obligations under the Convention and to support the Organisation for the Prohibition  of Chemical Weapons in its implementation activities;    23. Welcomes the progress made in the national implementation of article VII  obligations, commends the States parties and the Technical Secretariat for assisting  other States parties, on request, with the implementation of the follow-up to the plan  of action regarding article VII obligations, urges States parties that have not fulfilled  their obligations under article VII to do so without further delay, in accordance with  their constitutional processes, and in this context reaffirms that full, effective and  non-discriminatory implementation of article VII is essential for the realization of the  object and purpose of the Convention;    24. Emphasizes the continuing relevance and importance of the provisions of  article X of the Convention, welcomes the activities of the Organisation for the  Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in relation to assistance and protection against  chemical weapons, supports further efforts by both States parties and the Technical  Secretariat to promote a high level of readiness to respond to chemical weapons  threats as articulated in article X, and welcomes the effectiveness and efficiency of  the increased focus on making full use of regional and subregional capacities and  expertise, including taking advantage of established training centres;    25. Reaffirms that the provisions of the Convention shall be implemented in a  manner that avoids hampering the economic or technological development of States  parties and international cooperation in the field of chemical activities for purposes  not prohibited under the Convention, including the international exchange of  scientific and technical information, and chemicals and equipment for the production,  processing or use of chemicals for purposes not prohibited under the Convention;    26. Emphasizes the importance of the provisions of article XI of the  Convention relating to the economic and technological development of States parties,  recalls that the full, effective and non-discriminatory implementation of those  provisions contributes to universality, and reaffirms the undertaking of the States  parties to foster international cooperation for peaceful purposes in the field of  __________________    19 EC-104/DG.19.   Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the  Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical  Weapons and on Their Destruction  A/RES/78/29   7/7 23-24537    chemical activities of the States parties and the importance of that cooperation and its  contribution to the promotion of the Convention as a whole;    27. Notes with appreciation the ongoing work of the Organisation for the  Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to achieve the object and purpose of the  Convention, to ensure the full implementation of its provisions, including those for  international verification of compliance with it, and to provide a forum for  consultation and cooperation among States parties;    28. Regrets that, despite the constructive engagement of most of the States  parties in the preparatory process leading to the Fifth Special Session of the  Conference of the States Parties to Review the Operation of the Chemical Weapons  Convention, it was not possible to adopt a final document, notwithstanding the fact  that the majority of subjects covered at the Fifth Review Conference received very  broad support and that a wide range of delegations undertook efforts towards a  consensual outcome;    29. Welcomes the opening of the Centre for Chemistry and Technology, which  strengthens the capabilities of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical  Weapons and its member States to implement the Chemical Weapons Convention,  uphold the global norm against chemical weapons, address threats and opportunities  arising from rapid progress in science and technology in the evolving global security  landscape, and support international cooperation;     30. Takes note of decision EC-102/DEC.6 of the Executive Council, entitled  “Allowing the convening of Executive Council meetings or sessions in extraordinary  circumstances”, of 16 March 2023;    31. Welcomes the cooperation between the United Nations and the  Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons within the framework of the  relationship agreement between the United Nations and the Organisation, 20  in  accordance with the provisions of the Convention;    32. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventy-ninth session,  under the item entitled “General and complete disarmament”, the sub-item entitled  “Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development,  Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction”.     42nd plenary meeting  4 December 2023    __________________    20 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2160, No. 1240.