INTERNATIONAL TREATIES CONCERNING CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL AGENTS. THEIR IMPLEMENTATION IN GREECE

摘要

The wide use of chemical and biological weapons during the World War I urged the international community to launch negotiations on international conventions concerning the prohibition of chemical and biological weapons use, that is, the Geneva Protocol (signed in 1925), the Convention on the Prohibition of Biological Weapons (in 1972) and the Chemical Weapons Convention (in 1993). Undoubtedly, these three conventions have played a key role to the prevention of using such substances in terrorist attacks. Nevertheless, their failure to assure efficient verification methods of implementation, being a great preoccupation of member states, requires innovative improvement strategies. Greece, being a member state to the all three treaties, is accused to be reluctant to implement fully the treaties, due to the lack of interest concerning the chemical and biological threat, disregarding its vulnerable geographic situation. Hence, a clear institutional framework and the empowerment of verification and control mechanisms are considered to be indispensable.