2+Ukraine

Policy Paper  Moira C. Committee: 2 Topic: Chemical and Biological Weapons Country: Ukraine  __BACKGROUND OF THE TOPIC: __   When you think of mustard gas, how long has it been a threat? The use of chemical and biological weapons can be traced back all the way to World War 1, first used by the French (specifically tear gas). Though only recently, the use of these weapons has crescendoed to the point where they could be thought of as weapons of mass destruction. These weapons include tear gas, xylyl bromide, chlorine, phosgene, and mustard gas, those are just the most well known. In 1925, sixteen of the world’s most major nations promised never to use harmful chemical agents in warfare, signing the Geneva Protocol in the process. Most soldiers claimed that they hated the use of the gas and the gas masks, and the weapon was not much of a killer. Only the chemists claimed the weapon to be of much use. The United States finally signed the protocol in 1975 after 50 years of it hanging in the Senate.  The largest use of the weapon’s use today is in the terrorist department. The nerve gases are easily accessible, transportable, and quite cheap. They can be easily made by chemists with the proper materials as well. In the last year, many terrorist mustard gas bombings were reported in Iraq, wounding more than 350 people. The bombings are reported to be attacks from the group Al-Queda, trying to shake up the country and cause panic.  __UNITED NATIONS INVOLVMENT: __   The United Nations have been trying very hard to come up with a solution for the usage of chemical and biological weapons. In resolution 687 passed in 1991, the United Nations Special Commission has come to try and stop all of Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction and their ballistic missiles, and Iraq formally agreed; in 1992, the Chemical Weapons Convention was adopted and started its disarmament almost right away; in 2004, the Security Council came up with resolution 1540, which was supposed to halt all proliferation of chemical and biological weapons in the States. Yet, the fight against weapons of mass destruction still fights. Almost all countries are willing to cooperate, though.  __<span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'">COUNTRY POLICY: __<span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"> Although Ukraine has its history with chemical and biological weapons, we have long abandoned its usage and proliferation. We now strongly emphasize the importance of non-proliferation and disarmament, not just for Ukraine, but for all countries. To quote Volodymyr Khandogiy, “As a country that voluntarily renounced its military nuclear arsenals, Ukraine is really disappointed that a world without weapons of mass destruction remains a distant dream.” We believe that to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction, we need to strengthen international bonds and norms and create legal instruments by ratifying the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and creating pacts for eliminating biological and chemical weapons (UN News Centre). Ukraine is even ready to host a conference with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons with the participation of North Africa and Middle Eastern Countries (UN News Centre).

__POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS:__

Ukraine has some very good ideas for the prevention of the usage of chemical and biological weapons. The first way we should try to stop it is to stop the people who are already using these weapons. Country border-lines could have routine checks of vehicles before they are permitted to enter another county, and the same thing can go for airplane security checks. The second way to stop usage is to prevent people from using it in the first place. There could be education done in schools specifically about the harmfulness of chemical and biological weapons, or even neigborhood groups that educate a whole community. Ukraine has come up with a specific committee that can stop the usage of these weapons of mass destruction by both halting usage and preventing usage; it is called International Negotiations for General Optimal Ordinance and Disarmament (IN for GOOD). The committee will meet with delegates and volunteers from the UN in problem countries. The committee will police and monitor usage, treat those suffering from weapons effects, and tour schools and educate about chemical and biological weapons. IN for GOOD would be a peaceful committee, helping as many people as they can.

__Bibliography:__

United Nations. "Chemical Weapons Convention" __United Nations Department of Disarmament Affairs__. 29 Apr. 1997. 9 Sept. 2008 (indentation) http://www.un.org/Depts/dda/WMD/cwc.

UN News Centre "Ukraine ready to host conferende on chemical weapons pact" __UN News Service__. 3 Oct. 2007. 14 Sept. 2008. (indentation) [+assembly...]

<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif">United Nations. "UNSCOM." __United Nations Special Commission__. 9 Sept. 2008. http://www.un.org/Depts/unscom/

<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif">Wikipedia. "Chemical Warfare." __Wikipedia__. 8 Sept. 2008. 9 Sept. 2008 <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_Non-Proliferation_Treaty <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif">