Press Release (96)78 15 May 1996

Dismantlement and Destruction of Chemical, Nuclear and Conventional Weapons Bonn, 19-21 May, 1996 Representatives from sixteen NATO and Cooperation Partner countries will meet near Bonn on 19-21 May to take stock of worldwide efforts to destroy and dismantle chemical, nuclear and conventional weapons remaining after the end of the Cold War. The conference, jointly sponsored by NATO, the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the State Government of North Rhine Westphalia, is intended to highlight achievements as well as to identify obstacles to progress in reversing the accumulated results of fifty years of military production and preparation for warfare. Speakers will discuss national efforts to destroy old chemical weapons remaining in the United States, Russia, and Western Europe following the Second World War, as well as bilateral and multilateral programmes. Dismantlement of nuclear weapons, including the storage, safeguarding and dispositioning of fissile materials and the status of system deactivation and dismantlement will also be examined. Conventional weapon dismantlement, including conversion to civil use of components, agent and energetic materials, will be discussed, as well as environmental challenges posed by chemical, nuclear and conventional disarmament. Senior-level representatives of NATO-member and Cooperation Partner countries will address national and bilateral programmes for destruction and dismantlement of chemical, nuclear and conventional weapons. German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel and NATO Deputy Secretary General Sergio Balanzino will open the conference on Monday, 20 May, and NATO Secretary General Javier Solana will speak at dinner that evening. For further information, please contact Nancy Schulte, Director, Programme on Disarmament Technologies, NATO Division of Scientific and Environmental Affairs, Brussels (Fax: (Intl-32-2) 707.4232).