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<p>Under the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention, it is open to states to
raise concerns related to compliance with the Convention. These may take the form
of direct consultations, including bilaterally, procedures involving the Organisation
for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) or procedures within the framework
of the United Nations. As our Permanent Representative to the OPCW briefed the Executive
Council of the OPCW in The Hague on 18 April, <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/opcw-executive-council-meeting-18-april-update-on-the-use-of-a-nerve-agent-in-salisbury"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/opcw-executive-council-meeting-18-april-update-on-the-use-of-a-nerve-agent-in-salisbury</a>,
in 2000, under the umbrella of Article IX of the Chemical Weapons Convention, the
UK asked a number of questions of Russia bilaterally, with a view to clarifying issues
relating to its CWC declarations. The UK specifically asked Russia about the development
of Novichok agents and whether Russia planned to include relevant information in its
declarations to the OPCW. The Russian reply indicated Russia believed there was no
information which was required to be declared.</p><p>The US has similarly approached
Russia bilaterally on compliance issues on a number of occasions in 2002, 2003 and
2006, and have made clear in their 2018 Report to their Congress on Adherence to and
Compliance With Arms Control, Nonproliferation, and Disarmament Agreements and Commitments
<a href="https://www.state.gov/t/avc/rls/rpt/2018/280532.htm" target="_blank">https://www.state.gov/t/avc/rls/rpt/2018/280532.htm</a>
that “the United States does not believe Russia has declared all of its CW stockpile,
all CWPFs [chemical weapons production facilities], and all of its CW development
facilities” and that “the Russian Federation is in non-compliance with its obligations
under the CWC”.</p>
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