The Agreement between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on Destruction and Non-Production of Chemical Weapons and on Measures to Facilitate the Multilateral Convention on Banning Chemical Weapons was signed in Washington on 1 June 1990 by Presidents George H. W. Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev, in duplicate, the English and Russian texts being equally authentic. It is not the Geneva Protocol of 1925, not the Jackson Hole Memorandum of 23 September 1989, and not the Chemical Weapons Convention opened for signature in 1993. Article X: it enters into force upon an exchange of instruments stating acceptance; unlimited duration, with the possibility of terminating it after the multilateral convention; withdrawal on six months' notice.

The preamble recalls the parties' special responsibility and the will to halt production and to begin destroying stockpiles without waiting for the global convention. Article I, at framework level: cooperation on safe destruction methods, non-production, reduction to equal low levels, development of inspection procedures, and practical measures to encourage capable states to join the multilateral convention. Highest priority: the safety of people and protection of the environment, under stringent national standards. A destruction protocol, an agent list or a facility regulation is not transcribed.

Article III: upon entry into force, each Party shall not produce chemical weapons. Article IV: by 31 December 2002 the aggregate quantity shall not exceed five thousand agent tons; destruction begins no later than 31 December 1992; by 31 December 1999 at least half of the declared quantity. Storage facilities are limited, also by 2002, to no more than eight. If one Party encounters problems, the other is not required to destroy at a more rapid rate. Article V provides for inspections at production, destruction and storage sites, at principle level; details were to follow in a procedures document. An inspection handbook is not set out here.

Article VI: cooperation toward the multilateral convention, including the intention to be among the original parties and a special conference in the eighth year. Article VIII: after the multilateral convention enters into force, it takes precedence in cases of incompatible obligations; otherwise this Agreement supplements it between the Parties. Article VII: consultations through diplomatic channels. Article IX: amendments by the same procedure as entry into force.

Cover: the White House, place of the East Room ceremony; we do not claim the hall. Wikimedia Commons, free licence.

Sources consulted: 1990 Chemical Weapons Accord; Agreement on Destruction and Non-Production of Chemical Weapons (ACDA official text, FAS).