Resolution adopted by the General Assembly  on 4 December 2017          [on the report of the First Committee (A/72/409)]        72/43. 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 71/69 of 5 December 2016,    Determined to achieve the effective prohibition of the development,  production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons and their  destruction,    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 on  the twentieth anniversary of the entry into force of the Convention and its deep  appreciation of the Organisation, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for  2013 for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons,    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, 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 continuation of 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, which was established to identify to  the greatest extent feasible individuals, entities, groups or Governments that were  perpetrators, organizers, sponsors or otherwise involved in the use of chemicals as  __________________    1  United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1974, No. 33757.   A/RES/72/43  Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction   17-21720  2/5    weapons, including chlorine or any other toxic chemical, in the Syrian Arab  Republic, where the fact-finding mission of the Organisation for the Prohibition of  Chemical Weapons determined that a specific incident in the Syrian Arab Republic  involved or likely involved the use of chemicals as weapons,    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,    Convinced that the Convention, 20 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,     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 chemical weapons as  reported by the Joint Investigative Mechanism of the Organisation for the  Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the United Nations in:    (a)  Its reports of 24 August 20162 and 21 October 2016,3 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; and  __________________    2  See S/2016/738/Rev.1.    3  See S/2016/888.   Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production,  Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction  A/RES/72/43   3/5  17-21720      (b)  Its report of 26 October 2017,4 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;  and demands that the perpetrators immediately desist from any further use of  chemical weapons;    3.  Reiterates the grave concern expressed by the Executive Council of the  Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in its decision EC-84/DEC.8  of 9 March 2017 that, according to statements by the Government of Malaysia, a  chemical weapon – the Schedule 1 nerve agent VX – was used in a fatal incident on  13 February 2017 at Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2;    4.  Emphasizes that the universality of the Convention on the Prohibition of  the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on  Their Destruction1 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, and calls upon all States that have not yet done so  to become parties to the Convention without delay;    5.  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;    6.  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;    7.  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  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;     8.  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;    9.  Recalls that the Third Special Session of the Conference of the States  Parties to Review the Operation of the Chemical Weapons Convention 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,  __________________    4  See S/2017/904.   A/RES/72/43  Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction   17-21720  4/5    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;    10. Welcomes the confirmation by the Director General of the Organisation  for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons expressed in his report of 5 October 2017,5  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;    11.  Also welcomes the ongoing progress related to the destruction of Libya’s  remaining category 2 chemical weapons outside the territory of Libya in line with  the relevant Executive Council decisions;    12. 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 (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;    13. Notes that the effective application of the verification system builds  confidence in compliance with the Convention by States parties;    14. 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;    15. Expresses grave concern that the Technical Secretariat, as reported by  the Director General in his report of 4 October 2017,6 is not able to resolve all  identified gaps, inconsistencies and discrepancies in the declaration of the Syrian  Arab Republic and, therefore, cannot fully verify that the Syrian Arab Republic has  submitted a declaration that can be considered accurate and complete in accordance  with the Convention or Executive Council decision EC-M-33/DEC.1, and  underscores the importance of such full verification;    16. 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;    17. 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, and urges States parties that have not  fulfilled their obligations under article VII to do so without further delay, in  accordance with their constitutional processes;  __________________    5  EC-86/DG.31.    6  EC-86/DG.30.   Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production,  Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction  A/RES/72/43   5/5  17-21720      18. 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;    19. 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;    20. 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  chemical activities of the States parties and the importance of that cooperation and  its contribution to the promotion of the Convention as a whole;    21. 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;    22. Stresses the importance of the preparatory work related to the Fourth  Special Session of the Conference of the States Parties to Review the Operation of  the Chemical Weapons Convention;    23. 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, 7 in  accordance with the provisions of the Convention;    24. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventy-third 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”.     62nd plenary meeting   4 December 2017    __________________    7  United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2160, No. 1240.