DATE=5/01/97
TYPE=NEW HORIZONS #1967
NUMBER=3-27236
TITLE=BANNING CHEMICAL WEAPONS
BYLINE=BRIAN CISLAK
TELEPHONE=619-3529
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
EDITOR=SWANEY
CONTENT=
(INSERTS AVAILABLE IN AUDIO SERVICES)
TAPE: MUSIC THEME
ANNCR: NEW HORIZONS!!!!
TAPE: MUSIC THEME
ANNCR: THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS -- NEW HORIZONS -- A
WEEKLY PROGRAM ON DEVELOPMENTS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY
AND MEDICINE. TODAY -- "BANNING CHEMICAL WEAPONS" -- A
LOOK AT THE NEW INTERNATIONAL CHEMICAL WEAPONS
CONVENTION: WHAT IT IS, WHAT IT DOES, WHOM IT AFFECTS.
TAPE: MUSIC THEME
TAPE: CUT ONE -- MIKULAK: (:11)
"THIS IS A PRETTY FAR REACHING PROHIBITION. IN FACT,
IT'S A TRUE DISARMAMENT MEASURE. IT'S INTENDED TO
COMPLETELY ELIMINATE CHEMICAL WEAPONS AS A WEAPON IN
NATIONAL ARSENALS."
TEXT: ROBERT MIKULAK (PRON: MICK-U-LACK), CHIEF OF THE
CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL POLICY DIVISION AT THE U.S. ARMS
CONTROL AND DISARMAMENT AGENCY. THE AGENCY HAD A LEADING
ROLE IN NEGOTIATING THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION,
WHICH TOOK EFFECT APRIL 29TH.
TAPE: CUT TWO -- MIKULAK: (:19)
"WHAT IS THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION? SIMPLY PUT,
IT'S AN INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT THAT BANS POISON GAS
WEAPONS -- BANS WEAPONS CONTAINING NERVE GAS, MUSTARD
GAS, EVEN SOME OF THE OLDER WEAPONS CONTAINING COMMON
COMMERCIAL CHEMICALS LIKE HYDROGEN CYANIDE AND
PHOSGENE."
TEXT: POISON GAS WEAPONS, FIRST USED EXTENSIVELY IN WORLD WAR
ONE IN THE FORM OF MUSTARD GAS, HAVE LONG BEEN CONDEMNED
FOR THEIR LETHALITY AND THEIR WIDESPREAD POTENTIAL FOR
HARM, BOTH TO SOLDIERS AND TO CIVILIAN POPULATIONS.
INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO BAN OR CONTROL CHEMICAL WEAPONS
BEGAN ALMOST AS SOON AS THEY WERE DEVELOPED. AN
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION RESTRICTING THEIR USE IN WAR
WAS CONCLUDED AT GENEVA IN 1925.
NEVERTHELESS THE DEVELOPMENT OF MORE SOPHISTICATED AND
LETHAL CHEMICAL WARFARE AGENTS PERSISTED INTO THE 1930'S
AND '40'S, WHEN NAZI GERMANY DEVELOPED THE FIRST NERVE
GAS AGENTS, WHICH CAUSE RAPID DEATH BY PARALYSIS. THESE
WERE NOT USED IN WORLD WAR TWO -- IT IS BELIEVED, DUE TO
GERMAN FEARS OF POSSIBLE RETALIATION IN KIND.
POSTWAR DEVELOPMENT OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS BY THE
SUPERPOWERS LED TO CONCERNS OVER PROLIFERATION AND THE
POTENTIAL FOR THEIR USE IN REGIONAL CONFLICTS. THEIR
RELATIVE EASE OF PRODUCTION BY ANY NATION WITH CHEMICAL
MANUFACTURING CAPABILITIES CAUSED THEM TO BE DUBBED "THE
POOR MAN'S ATOMIC BOMB." ROBERT MIKULAK EXPLAINS:
TAPE: CUT THREE -- MIKULAK: (:56)
"AT THAT TIME WE WERE WORRIED PRIMARILY ABOUT THE SOVIET
UNION. LATER ON, IT BECAME APPARENT THAT CHEMICAL
WEAPONS WERE STARTING TO PROLIFERATE. THE IRAQIS, FOR
EXAMPLE, USED CHEMICAL WEAPONS IN THEIR WAR WITH IRAN
AND AGAINST THEIR OWN KURDISH POPULATION DURING THE
1980'S. SINCE THE END OF THE COLD WAR, THAT PROBLEM HAS
ACCELERATED. THESE DAYS WE ESTIMATE THAT APPROXIMATELY
20 COUNTRIES EITHER HAVE CHEMICAL WEAPONS OR ARE
INTERESTED IN ACQUIRING THEM -- HAVE SOME KIND OF
CHEMICAL WEAPONS PROGRAM.
"IT'S A SCARY THOUGHT, PARTICULARLY IF YOU LOOK AT WHERE
THOSE COUNTRIES ARE. THEY TEND TO BE PRIMARILY IN THE
MIDDLE EAST, THOUGH CHINA, FOR EXAMPLE, WE THINK HAS A
CHEMICAL WEAPONS PROGRAM. RUSSIA STILL HAS A CHEMICAL
WEAPONS PROGRAM. NORTH KOREA PROBABLY HAS A CHEMICAL
WEAPONS PROGRAM. AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHERS. SO
IT'S A WORLDWIDE PROBLEM. IT'S NOT JUST A BILATERAL
PROBLEM ANYMORE."
TEXT: IN 1969, PRESIDENT RICHARD NIXON UNILATERALLY RENOUNCED
USE BY THE UNITED STATES OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS. LATER,
THE UNITED STATES BEGAN DESTROYING ITS CHEMICAL WEAPONS
STOCKPILES -- A PROCESS THAT CONTINUES TO THIS DAY. IN
THE 1970'S AND '80'S, SERIOUS EFFORTS GOT UNDERWAY
TOWARD A COMPREHENSIVE INTERNATIONAL TREATY, WHICH WOULD
BAN THE USE, PRODUCTION AND STOCKPILING OF CHEMICAL
WEAPONS AND MANDATE THEIR DESTRUCTION. THIS EFFORT
CULMINATED IN THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION, SIGNED IN
PARIS ON JANUARY 12, 1993, WHICH BECAME EFFECTIVE ON
APRIL 29TH OF THIS YEAR. A FEW DAYS EARLIER, THE U.S.
SENATE VOTED TO RATIFY THE TREATY, MAKING THE UNITED
STATES THE 73RD SIGNATORY TO DO SO.
WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION
AND WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT FROM PREVIOUS EFFORTS TO
RESTRICT CHEMICAL WARFARE? ROBERT MIKULAK OF THE ARMS
CONTROL AND DISARMAMENT AGENCY EXPLAINS:
TAPE: CUT FOUR -- MIKULAK: (1:10)
"MORE SPECIFICALLY THEN, THE TREATY BANS POISON GAS, BUT
WHAT EXACTLY DOES IT DO? IT MAKES POISON GAS WEAPONS
ILLEGAL. THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ILLEGAL UNTIL NOW. IT'S
BEEN LEGAL TO STOCKPILE THEM AND A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES
HAVE. AND IT CREATES A VERIFICATION AND ENFORCEMENT
MECHANISM TO ENSURE THAT COUNTRIES LIVE UP TO THEIR
COMMITMENTS UNDER THE TREATY.
"IN TERMS OF THE SCOPE OF THE TREATY, IT BANS NOT ONLY
USE OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS, AS IMPORTANT AS THAT IS, BUT IT
ALSO BANS ALL THE ACTIVITIES RELATED TO ACQUIRING
CHEMICAL WEAPONS -- BANS DEVELOPMENT, BANS PRODUCTION,
BANS STOCKPILING. AND IT REQUIRES THAT ALL EXISTING
STOCKPILES, ALL EXISTING CHEMICAL WEAPONS PRODUCTION
FACILITIES, BE DECLARED AND DESTROYED. SO UNDER THE
TREATY, THE UNITED STATES, FOR EXAMPLE, WOULD MAKE A
VERY DETAILED DECLARATION OF ITS CHEMICAL WEAPONS
STOCKS, PRODUCTION FACILITIES, AND WOULD BE OBLIGATED TO
DESTROY THESE OVER A TEN YEAR PERIOD. THE SAME WOULD GO
FOR ANY OTHER COUNTRY THAT HAS CHEMICAL WEAPONS AND
CHEMICAL WEAPONS PRODUCTION FACILITIES."
TEXT: TO ENSURE THAT COUNTRIES ARE, IN FACT, DESTROYING THEIR
STOCKPILES, A SYSTEM OF ROUTINE INSPECTION IS BEING SET
UP IN THE HAGUE WITH 250 INSPECTORS DRAWN FROM THE
NATIONS THAT HAVE RATIFIED THE TREATY. THEY WOULD BE
DISPATCHED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD TO CHECK FACILITIES AND
VERIFY COMPLIANCE. MOST OF THE DETAILED INSPECTIONS
WOULD BE OF MILITARY FACILITIES. BUT SOME OF THE
CHEMICALS THAT COULD BE USED IN WEAPONS -- HYDROGEN
CYANIDE AND PHOSGENE, FOR EXAMPLE -- ARE SO-CALLED "DUAL
USE" -- THAT IS, THEY HAVE LEGITIMATE COMMERCIAL
APPLICATIONS. SO CERTAIN CHEMICAL MANUFACTURING PLANTS
COULD BE TARGETED FOR INSPECTION.
IT WAS THIS LATTER POSSIBILITY THAT PROMPTED THE
CONVENING OF A SPECIAL SYMPOSIUM ON THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS
TREATY AT LAST MONTH'S MEETING OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL
SOCIETY IN SAN FRANCISCO. DURING THE DEBATE ON
RATIFICATION OF THE TREATY, CONCERNS WERE RAISED THAT
INSPECTIONS OF COMMERCIAL PLANTS MIGHT BE INTRUSIVE, OR
MIGHT COMPROMISE TRADE SECRETS -- PUTTING COMPANIES AT
COMPETITIVE DISADVANTAGE. BUT MARY BETH KELLEHER OF THE
CHEMICAL MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATION -- THE MAIN U.S.
INDUSTRY GROUP -- SAYS THE LEAKAGE OF PROPRIETARY
INFORMATION DURING TREATY-MANDATED INSPECTIONS IS A
NON-PROBLEM. THE REASON, AS SHE EXPLAINED AT THE
CHEMICAL SOCIETY MEETING, IS THAT INDUSTRY HAD BEEN
INVOLVED FROM THE VERY BEGINNING IN ADVISING TREATY
NEGOTIATORS ON WAYS TO PROTECT AGAINST THAT POSSIBILITY:
TAPE: CUT FIVE -- KELLEHER: (:53)
"THROUGHOUT THOSE NEGOTIATIONS, REPRESENTATIVES OF
SEVERAL US CHEMICAL INDUSTRY SECTORS, SUCH AS THE BASIC
CHEMICAL MANUFACTURERS, PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURERS AND
SYNTHETIC ORGANIC CHEMICAL MANUFACTURERS, PROVIDED
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND INPUT TO THE U.S GOVERNMENT
DELEGATION NEGOTIATING THE CONVENTION.
"U.S. INDUSTRY ALSO HELPED COORDINATE AN INTERNATIONAL
INDUSTRY GROUP REPRESENTING THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES OF
THE UNITED STATES, JAPAN, EUROPE, CANADA AND AUSTRALIA.
INDUSTRY'S INVOLVEMENT IN NEGOTIATION AND ONGOING
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TREATY STEMS FROM ITS COMMITMENT
TO PREVENT ANY DIVERSION OF ITS LEGITIMATE PRODUCTS TO
ILLEGAL USES. THE U.S. CHEMICAL INDUSTRY DOES NOT MAKE
CHEMICAL WEAPONS. BUT THE SUCCESSFUL DETERRENCE OF THE
CHEMICAL WEAPONS THREAT REQUIRES INDUSTRY INPUT AND
SUPPORT."
TEXT: MS. KELLEHER ADDS THAT THERE ARE FEWER THAN 200
FACILITIES IN THE UNITED STATES THAT COULD EXPECT TO BE
INSPECTED UNDER THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION.
ROUGHLY 18-HUNDRED OTHERS -- PRODUCERS OF SO-CALLED
"DISCRETE," OR BASIC, ORGANIC CHEMICALS -- WOULD FILL
OUT A FORM INDICATING VOLUME OF PRODUCTION. BUT AS
LARRY HALL OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE EXPLAINS,
MOST PLANTS -- SUCH AS THOSE THAT PRODUCE RAW MATERIALS
FOR THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY -- WOULD BE EXEMPT FROM
DECLARATION OR INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS:
TAPE: CUT SIX -- HALL: (:39)
"THESE EXEMPTIONS WERE WORKED OUT WITH INDUSTRY AND WILL
REDUCE THE NUMBER OF FIRMS THAT WILL BE REQUIRED TO
SUBMIT DISCRETE ORGANIC CHEMICAL DECLARATIONS. EXCLUDED
ARE DOC (DISCRETE ORGANIC CHEMICAL) PLANT SITES THAT
PRODUCE EXPLOSIVES EXCLUSIVELY, PRODUCE HYDROCARBONS
EXCLUSIVELY SUCH AS ETHYLENE AND BENZENE....... REFINE
SULFUR-CONTAINING CRUDE OIL, PRODUCE OLIGOMERS AND
POLYMERS AND PRODUCE UNSCHEDULED CHEMICALS VIA
BIOLOGICAL OR BIOMEDIATED PROCESS: THIS IS LIKE
FERMENTED BEVERAGES OR FOOD PROCESSING."
TEXT: IN ADDITION TO ROUTINE INSPECTIONS, THERE IS ANOTHER
LEVEL OF SCRUTINY UNDER THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION
CALLED A "CHALLENGE" INSPECTION. THAT IS ONE IN WHICH A
MEMBER NATION SPECIFICALLY ACCUSES ANOTHER OF
MANUFACTURING OR POSSESSING CHEMICAL WEAPONS AT A
SPECIFIC LOCATION. EVERY SIGNATORY COUNTRY WILL
DESIGNATE A CIVILIAN AGENCY TO ACT AS AN INTERMEDIARY
BETWEEN THE INTERNATIONAL INSPECTION TEAMS AND THE
FACILITIES BEING INSPECTED. IN THE UNITED STATES IT
WILL BE THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, /// OPT /// AS LARRY
HALL EXPLAINS:
TAPE: CUT SEVEN -- HALL: (:45)
"WHILE WE BELIEVE THAT VERY FEW CHALLENGE INSPECTIONS
WILL TAKE PLACE, ANY THAT DO TAKE PLACE WILL LIKELY BE
DIRECTED AT U.S. MILITARY FACILITIES. IN THE EVENT
THERE IS A CHALLENGE INSPECTION OF A U.S. COMMERCIAL
FACILITY, COMMERCE IS EXPECTED TO PLAY THE LEAD ROLE IN
MANAGING ACCESS TO ENSURE THAT INSPECTORS PURSUE THE
LEAST INTRUSIVE MEANS POSSIBLE TO GAIN REASONABLE
ANSWERS TO REASONABLE QUESTIONS. A FIRM IS UNDER NO
OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE INFORMATION UNRELATED TO A
POSSIBLE VIOLATION OF THE CWC. AS WITH ROUTINE
INSPECTIONS, COMMERCE INTENDS TO RELY HEAVILY ON THE
JUDGMENTS OF A FIRM REGARDING WHAT CONSTITUTES THEIR
CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS INFORMATION AND TO PROTECT FIRMS
AGAINST UNREASONABLE QUESTIONS." /// END OPT ///
TEXT: LEGAL EXPERTS SAY THAT THE FOURTH AMENDMENT TO THE U.S.
CONSTITUTION, WHICH PROTECTS CITIZENS AGAINST
UNREASONABLE SEARCHES OF THEIR PROPERTY, ALSO APPLIES TO
COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES -- THOUGH TO A
LESSER EXTENT THAN TO A PRIVATE RESIDENCE. EDWARD
TANZMAN, AN ATTORNEY, IS MANAGER OF THE ECONOMICS AND
LAW SECTION AT ARGONNE NATIONAL LABORATORY -- A NUCLEAR
RESEARCH FACILITY NEAR CHICAGO. HE SAYS THAT ALL
INSPECTIONS UNDER THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION WOULD
HAVE TO BE CARRIED OUT IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH
CONSTITUTIONAL PRIVACY PROTECTIONS:
TAPE: CUT EIGHT -- TANZMAN: (:46)
"CONFLICTS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND
TREATIES ARE RESOLVED BY COURTS IN FAVOR OF THE
CONSTITUTION. TREATIES DO NOT TRUMP THE CONSTITUTION.
IT'S THE OTHER WAY AROUND. SO AS A RESULT, INSPECTIONS
UNDER THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION ARE SUBJECT TO THE
PRIVACY PROTECTIONS PROVIDED BY THE FOURTH AMENDMENT.
THIS MEANS THAT ANY INSPECTIONS OCCURRING IN THIS
COUNTRY WILL HAVE TO PROCEED IN A VERY SPECIFIC MANNER
THAT RESPECTS OUR TRADITIONAL VALUES. /// OPT /// AND
WHAT YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND -- IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND
ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT WHAT I'M TELLING YOU -- IS THAT THE
CONSTITUTION IS GREATER THAN THE TREATY. THE
CONSTITUTION WILL NOT BE VIOLATED BY THE TREATY." ///
END OPT ///
TEXT: MR. TANZMAN SAYS THESE PROTECTIONS WOULD INCLUDE
ADMINISTRATIVE AND JUDICIAL OVERSIGHT, INCLUDING SEARCH
WARRANTS WHERE THE LAW WOULD NORMALLY REQUIRE THEM:
TAPE: CUT NINE -- TANZMAN: (:21)
/// OPT /// "THE FOURTH AMENDMENT CREATES A SET OF
COMMON STANDARDS TO GUIDE GOVERNMENT SEARCHES UNDER A
VARIETY OF LAWS. AS AMERICANS WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO
EXPECT THAT THESE STANDARDS WILL BE FOLLOWED UNDER THE
CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION, JUST AS THEY ARE FOLLOWED
IN DOMESTIC INSPECTION SITUATIONS AND INVESTIGATIONS."
/// END OPT ///
TEXT: IF AN INSPECTION AT A CHEMICAL PLANT OR MILITARY
FACILITY IS ORDERED, IT MUST BE CONDUCTED IN A MANNER
THAT IS AS UNOBTRUSIVE, SPEEDY AND FOCUSED AS POSSIBLE.
A KEY TO MEETING THESE REQUIREMENTS IS TO RESTRICT BOTH
THE INSPECTION AND THE ANALYSIS OF ANY RETRIEVED
CHEMICAL SAMPLES TO THE SITE BEING INSPECTED. CHARLES
GALLAWAY OF THE U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT'S SPECIAL
WEAPONS AGENCY SAYS THIS REQUIREMENT HAD LED TO THE
DEVELOPMENT OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES FOR ON-SITE CHEMICAL
ANALYSIS:
TAPE: CUT TEN -- GALLAWAY: (:44)
"BACK IN 1993, MOST OF THE COMMUNITY WAS VERY SKEPTICAL
THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT. AT THAT TIME IT WAS
PRETTY MUCH ASSUMED THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO TAKE A SAMPLE
AND TAKE IT BACK TO A LABORATORY AND DO THE ANALYSIS
SOMEWHERE ELSE. THAT IS EXTREMELY INTRUSIVE BECAUSE YOU
HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO THAT SAMPLE WHEN
IT LEAVES YOUR SITE.
"SO THE DEFENSE SPECIAL WEAPONS AGENCY HAS BEEN
INSTRUMENTAL IN CONVINCING THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
THAT WE CAN DO EFFECTIVE ON-SITE ANALYSIS. WE'VE ALSO
DEVELOPED TECHNIQUES TO CONVINCE THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY THAT WE CAN DO NON-INVASIVE SAMPLING OF
CONTAINERS SO WE DON'T HAVE TO OPEN THINGS LIKE
MUNITIONS THAT MAY HAVE CHEMICAL WEAPONS IN THEM OR
CONTAINERS."
TEXT: THE DEFENSE SPECIAL WEAPONS AGENCY IS EXPLORING A NUMBER
OF "NON-INVASIVE" OR "NON-DESTRUCTIVE" SAMPLING
TECHNIQUES. THESE INCLUDE ACOUSTIC RESONANCE
SPECTROSCOPY, WHICH CAN "READ" THE CHEMICAL CONTENTS
INSIDE A CONTAINER BY BOMBARDING IT WITH SOUND WAVES.
ANOTHER, CALLED THE PORTABLE ISOTOPIC NEUTRON SYSTEM, OR
PINS, AIMS A BEAM OF NEUTRONS AT A CONTAINER, AND
DETERMINES ITS CHEMICAL CONTENTS BY THE GAMMA RAYS THAT
THEY EMIT. EFFORTS ARE ALSO UNDERWAY TO MAKE STANDARD
LABORATORY ANALYTICAL TOOLS, LIKE GAS CHROMATOGRAPHS AND
MASS SPECTROMETERS, MORE RUGGED AND PORTABLE, EASIER TO
USE ON SITE:
TAPE: CUT ELEVEN -- GALLAWAY: (:42)
/// OPT /// "ONE OF THESE INSPECTIONS MAY GO INTO A SITE
THAT HAS NO POWER, NO ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS, SO YOU
ESSENTIALLY HAVE TO CARRY ALL OF YOUR POWER IN WITH YOU,
CARRY IN SOME KIND OF PROTECTIVE STRUCTURE IF THAT'S
WHAT IT TAKES FOR YOU TO OPERATE IN......WE NEED TO BE
FAST. WE THINK A SCREENING PROCESS SHOULD TAKE NO MORE
THAN THREE MINUTES TO ACCOMPLISH. WE NEED TO MINIMIZE
FALSE POSITIVES, BECAUSE IF WE HAVE TOO MANY FALSE
POSITIVES WE'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE TO ANALYZE 'WAY TOO
MANY SAMPLES. AND MAN-PORTABLE. WHAT WE'RE THINKING
THERE IS SOMETHING THAT IS HAND-HELD -- PROBABLY WEIGHS
TEN POUNDS (4.5 KILOS) OR LESS, BATTERY OPERATED SO THAT
IT'S VERY USEFUL OUT IN THE FIELD. AND IT HAS TO BE
RUGGED SO IT CAN GO OUT INTO SOME PRETTY HOSTILE
ENVIRONMENTS." /// END OPT ///
TEXT: A KEY OBJECTIVE, ACCORDING TO MR. GALLOWAY, IS TO ENSURE
THAT A CHEMICAL WEAPONS INVESTIGATION AT A PLANT OR A
BASE REMAINS FOCUSED ON POTENTIAL TREATY VIOLATIONS, AND
THAT IT DOES NOT WANDER INTO IRRELEVANT AREAS THAT COULD
INVOLVE A COMPANY'S TRADE SECRETS OR NATIONAL SECURITY.
HE SAYS THAT RECENT ADVANCES IN COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY CAN
HELP MAKE SURE THAT THE INVESTIGATION REMAINS ON TRACK:
TAPE: CUT TWELVE -- GALLOWAY: (:30)
"OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO FIND ALL TREATY-RELEVANT CHEMICALS.
WE WANT TO IDENTIFY THE CONTENTS OF MUNITIONS OR CLOSED
CONTAINERS NON-INVASIVELY. THEN FINALLY TO ENSURE THAT
IT'S NOT TOO INTRUSIVE, WE DON'T WHAT TO FIND OUT WHAT
IS OUT THERE THAT IS NOT TREATY RELEVANT. SO WE'VE GONE
TO WHAT IS CALLED 'MASKING SOFTWARE.' .... WHAT WE'RE
TRYING TO DO IS AUTOMATICALLY SUPPRESS THE NON-RELEVANT
OUTPUT SO THAT ONE DOES NOT LEARN ANYTHING THAT IS NOT
RELATED TO THE TREATY."
TEXT: THE MASKING SOFTWARE WOULD BE INCORPORATED INTO ALL
SCREENING AND ANALYTICAL EQUIPMENT, SO THAT THE ONLY
RESULTS DISPLAYED ON A COMPUTER SCREEN OR PAPER READOUT
WOULD BE FOR THOSE CHEMICALS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY
COVERED BY THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION. MR.
GALLAWAY ADDS THAT, AS THESE TECHNOLOGIES ARE DEVELOPED,
HIS AGENCY MAKES THEM AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE TO
COMMERCIAL DESIGNERS AND MANUFACTURERS TO ENSURE THAT
THEY ARE RAPIDLY EMBRACED AND USED -- EVERYWHERE IN THE
WORLD.
IN ADDITION TO MAKING CHEMICAL WEAPONS SCREENING
TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE ELSEWHERE, THE UNITED STATES IS
HELPING NATIONS WITH WEAPONS STOCKPILES TO PROPERLY
DISPOSE OF THEM. ROBERT MIKULAK OF THE U.S. ARMS CONTROL
AND DISARMAMENT AGENCY CITES THE EXAMPLE OF RUSSIA:
TAPE: CUT THIRTEEN -- MIKULAK: (:58)
"THE RUSSIAN STOCKPILE IS THE LARGEST IN THE WORLD --
40-THOUSAND TONS OF NERVE AGENT AND MUSTARD AGENT.
GETTING RID OF IT IS A VERY COMPLICATED TECHNICAL
PROCESS WHERE SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS HAVE TO BE
PARAMOUNT. THE UNITED STATES, TO GET RID OF A SMALLER
STOCKPILE, IS SPENDING 12-BILLION DOLLARS. THE RUSSIANS
ESTIMATE THEIR OWN COSTS AT PERHAPS TWO TO THREE BILLION
DOLLARS. THAT'S MONEY THEY DON'T HAVE RIGHT NOW. SO
THEY'VE HAD TROUBLE GETTING THEIR PROGRAM UNDERWAY.
THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN TRYING TO PROVIDE SOME
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND WE ARE DISCUSSING WITH THEM
FUNDING A PILOT-SCALE NERVE AGENT DESTRUCTION FACILITY,
WHICH WOULD BE THEIR FIRST NERVE AGENT (DESTRUCTION)
FACILITY.
/// OPT /// "BUT THE RUSSIANS WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE
BULK OF THEIR PROGRAM THEMSELVES. IT'S THEIR
RESPONSIBILITY, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE TRYING TO HELP THEM.
AND THAT CERTAINLY IS A CONSIDERATION IN THE DUMA AS
THEY CONSIDER ENTERING THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION
WHICH REQUIRES DESTRUCTION OF ALL ITS STOCKPILES." ///
END OPT ///
TEXT: ULTIMATELY, THE GOAL IS NOT ONLY TO DESTROY CHEMICAL
WEAPONS, BUT ALSO TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF CHEMICAL
WEAPONS TECHNOLOGY TO ROGUE NATIONS THAT WOULD USE IT TO
INTIMIDATE THEIR NEIGHBORS. MR. MIKULAK ADDS THAT, BY
MAKING CHEMICAL WEAPONS ILLEGAL, THE CONVENTION WILL
PROVIDE SIGNATORY NATIONS WITH LEGAL LEVERAGE OVER
ONE-ANOTHER TO PREVENT TRANSFER OF MATERIALS OR KNOWHOW
TO COUNTRIES OR FIRMS OUTSIDE OF THE CONVENTION THAT
WOULD MISUSE THEM. THE TREATY CONTAINS A SYSTEM OF
SANCTIONS THAT COULD CUT OFF TRADE EVEN IN COMMERCIAL,
NON-WEAPONS-RELATED CHEMICALS WITH THOSE NATIONS --
SIGNATORIES OR NON-SIGNATORIES -- THAT DO NOT ABIDE BY
NON-PROLIFERATION GUIDELINES. ALSO, ALL SIGNATORY
COUNTRIES ARE REQUIRED TO INCORPORATE THE TREATY'S
PROVISIONS INTO THEIR NATIONAL LAWS. THUS VIOLATORS
WOULD BE SUBJECT TO CRIMINAL PROSECUTION. ANYONE
CONVICTED OF MANUFACTURING OR SELLING CHEMICAL WEAPONS
COULD THEREFORE GO TO PRISON. AS MR. MIKULAK SEES IT,
IT'S ONLY THE "BAD GUYS" WHO WOULD BE HURT:
TAPE: CUT FOURTEEN -- MIKULAK: (1:00)
"THE UNITED STATES IS ALREADY GETTING OUT OF THE
CHEMICAL WEAPONS BUSINESS. DURING THE MID-1980'S --
1985 IT WAS DECIDED TO DESTROY OUR ENTIRE UNITARY
CHEMICAL WEAPONS STOCKPILE. DURING OPERATION DESERT
STORM, IT BECAME CLEAR TO OUR MILITARY THAT IT WAS NOT
NECESSARY TO RETAIN ANY CHEMICAL WEAPONS AT ALL --
EITHER AS A DETERRENT OR AS A RETALIATORY MEASURE; THAT
WE HAD OTHER MILITARY MEANS FOR DEALING WITH THE
CHEMICAL WEAPONS THREAT.
"SO YOU FIND UNIFORMLY OUR MILITARY LEADERS SAYING THE
UNITED STATES DOESN'T NEED CHEMICAL WEAPONS. WE WANT TO
GET OUT OF THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS BUSINESS, AND WE WANT
OTHER PEOPLE TO GET OUT OF THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS
BUSINESS, TOO. THAT'S ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL ADVANTAGES WE
SEE IN THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION -- THAT IT WILL
GET OTHER PEOPLE TO DO WHAT WE ARE ALREADY DOING
OURSELVES."
TAPE: MUSIC THEME
ANNCR: YOU'VE BEEN LISTENING TO -- NEW HORIZONS -- A WEEKLY
VOICE OF AMERICA PROGRAM ON DEVELOPMENTS IN SCIENCE,
TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINE. TODAY YOU HEARD -- "BANNING
CHEMICAL WEAPONS" -- A LOOK AT THE NEW INTERNATIONAL
CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION: WHAT IT IS, WHAT IT DOES,
WHOM IT AFFECTS. THIS PROGRAM WAS WRITTEN AND PRODUCED
BY BRIAN CISLAK.
01-May-97 2:41 PM EDT (1841 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.