Tsabratan Convention

Tsabratan Convention

Convention for the Prohibition of Weapons of War Utilizing Biological Toxins, Radiological Materials or Noxious Chemicals
Drafted	1 August 1989
Signed	2 August 1989
Location	Tsabratan, Tyreseia
Effective	1 January 1993
Condition	Ratification by 20 states
Signatories	28 (original included)
Parties	26 (not counting withdrawn)
Depositary	Government of Tyreseia

The Tsabratan Convention, known officially as the Convention for the Prohibition of Weapons of War Utilizing Biological Toxins, Radiological Materials or Noxious Chemicals, is a comprehensive treaty prohibiting the use, manufacture, and possession of radiological, chemical and biological weapons in armed conflicts. The Convention also expanded protections for prisoners of war and non-combatant forces based on previous treaties on international law. It was signed on 2 August 1990 in the city of Tsabratan, Tyreseia. The Convention's provisions are upheld by the Forum of Nations' Conference for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation, and is considered part of customary international law.

The Tsabratan Convention prohibits any "weapons dispersing or otherwise carrying agents of biological toxin, bacteriology, virology, or other hazardous lifeforms... [and] chemicals or radioactive materials which act as liquids, gases, or particulates which asphyxiate, poison, intoxicate, inhibit the nervous system or otherwise create undue harm." The wording of this prohibition is deliberately broad, and is meant to include all forms of chemical and biological warfare within it. The Convention also prohibits any and all production or possession of these weapons. A number of nations negotiated and ratified the Convention; some other states, such as Phansi Uhlanga and Shirazam, have acceded to some of the articles of the Convention but with "reservations" on others.

Background and negotiation

Tyreseian FON biological warfare cleanup troops; Mount Jekara site, Charnea, 1993.

Biological warfare had been used since at least the medieval period, but regulations on its use only came much later. The topic of chemical and biological warfare became more contentious through successive conflicts in the 20th century, and previous international conferences had attempted to prohibit their use. The Kayatman Conference in the wake of the Hanaki War was the first such summit to attempt to rectify the issue, following extensive use of chemical weapons by the Jin Republic. However, the protocols arising from these summits often failed to resolve key issues, such as possession and procurement. Use against non-state actors and non-signatory states were also left ambiguous. In 1951, the Conference for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation was created as an arm of the Forum of Nations, though its initial scope and power was limited. Additionally, the advent of radiological weapons largely happened after existing bio-chemical warfare restrictions had been codified; as such, the regulations for CBR weapons were inconsistent.

The two-year-long Ninvite War saw the use by both Charnea and Fahran of chemical weapons against state and non-state combatants alike. When the war's end was negotiated in 1987, there was a renewed impetus to broaden prohibitions on chemical weapons in warfare. The Tyreseian administration, represented by President of the Council of State Djudoru Abreu Mattan, proposed to host a conference on the issue in the coastal border city of Tsabratan. Mattan and the Council of State sought to increase Tyreseia's regional diplomatic clout as a Scipian peacemaker, and had felt slighted by the choice of the Anahri city of Kahrash as the location of the Ninvite War armistice negotiations. In addition, Tyreseian reporting on Ninvite war crimes had appalled the Tyreseian public, and the political salons were unusually united in demanding the Foreign Affairs Commissariat take action on the issue.

State parties

Reservations

Numerous states, rather than ratifying the demands of the Convention in full, choose to accede to only some parts of the Convention.

Party	Type	Signed	Reservations	Notes
Alanahr	Ratified in full	2 August 1989	—	Original signatory.
Ala Nova	Ratified in full	2 August 2022	—	Post-Enyaman-Civil-War successor states, as per rules of the Convention, carried Enyama's withdrawn non-signatory status upon secession, and thus had to sign the Convention independently.
Arthurista	Ratified in full	2 August 1989	—	Original signatory.
Banno Shogunate (West Enyama)	Non-signatory	N/A	—	Post-Enyaman-Civil-War successor states, as per rules of the Convention, carried Enyama's withdrawn non-signatory status upon secession, and thus had to sign the Convention independently. The Shogunate has thus far failed to acknowledge the Conventions.
Belfras	Ratified in full	2 August 1989	—	Original signatory.
Brumen	Ratified in full	2 August 1989	—	Original signatory.
Da Huang	Non-signatory	N/A	—	Da Huang maintains an arsenal of CBR weapons stockpiles that are alleged to be still in active service in Everlasting Army Ground Forces (EAGF). Reports conflict on whether the CBR arsenal is under the direct control of the Jin government or the EAGF under Grand General Cao Fang. International observers have collaborated with Jin peace activists and journalists that the EAGF and, allegedly, Daobac corporation mercenaries have actively used CBR weapons against the Kra insurgency in Baixiangshan and the mountain range of Northeastern Da Huang.
Daobac	Non-signatory	N/A	—	Publically, the Daoan government has maintained a policy of strategic ambiguity, having never acknowledged nor denied its capabilities in the production, deployment, stockpiling and distribution of CBR weapons. Policy makers were concerned that signing for such a treaty, even in part, would end its strategic ambiguity. However Daoan security contractors have been accused by various activisits and some governments for the manufacturing, stockpiling and deployment of CBR weapons. These companies have consistently refuted such claims and argued that even if it were a signatory state the treaty only applies to governments, not private corporations.
Drevstran	Ratified in full	2 August 1989	—	Original signatory.
Dzhuvenestan	Withdrawn	2 August 1989	—	Original signatory; withdrawn 12 March 1991 under Afran Zomorodi and the Revolutionary Salvation Command Council junta.
East Enyama	Ratified in full	2 August 2022	—	Post-Enyaman-Civil-War successor states, as per rules of the Convention, carried Enyama's withdrawn non-signatory status upon secession, and thus had to sign the Convention independently.
Enyama	Withdrawn	2 August 1989	—	Original signatory; withdrawn 30 August 2005 under President Muratagi. State now defunct.
Ganzak	Non-signatory	N/A	—	Ganzak has never revealed that it has any such capabilities and thus maintains that it has no need to sign such a treaty dictating its defensive policy. External experts have surmised, however, that Ganzak maintains a significant stockpile of weapons and continues development of them in secret, a fact which the government vehemently denies.
Gristol-Serkonos	Ratified in full	2 August 1989	—	Original signatory.
Kembesa	Non-signatory	N/A	—
Ludvosiya	Ratified in full	2 August 1989	—	Original signatory. Signed jointly with Velikoslavia.
Lusoña	Reservations	21 November 2014	Chemical, biological and radiological weapons clauses	Accedes to the clauses on the treatment of prisoners of war but reserves the right to use CBR weapons. Pledges not to use CBR weapons in a first strike.
Norinnia	Ratified in full	2 August 2022	—	Post-Enyaman-Civil-War successor states, as per rules of the Convention, carried Enyama's withdrawn non-signatory status upon secession, and thus had to sign the Convention independently.
Ostrozava	Ratified in full	2 August 1989	—	Original signatory.
Phansi Uhlanga	Reservations	21 November 2014	Chemical, biological and radiological weapons clauses	Accedes to the clauses on the treatment of prisoners of war but reserves the right to use CBR weapons as part of massive retaliation.
Pulacan	Ratified in full	2 August 1989	—	Original signatory.
Pulau Keramat	Ratified in full	2 August 1989	—	Original signatory.
Shirazam	Reservations	2 August 2001	Chemical, biological and radiological weapons clauses	Accedes to the clauses on the treatment of prisoners of war but reserves the right to use CBR weapons. Pledges not to use CBR weapons in a first strike.
Talahara	Ratified in full	2 August 1989	—	Original signatory.
Tsurushima	Ratified in full	2 August 1989	—	Original signatory.
Tyreseia	Ratified in full	2 August 1989	—	Depositary, original signatory.
Velikoslavia	Ratified in full	2 August 1989	—	Original signatory. Signed jointly with Ludvosiya.
Wazheganon	Ratified in full	2 August 1989	—	Original signatory.
Yisrael	Ratified in full	2 August 1989	—	Original signatory.
Zacapican	Ratified in full	2 August 1989	—	Original signatory.
Zamorodna	Ratified in full	2 August 1990	—
Zanzali	Ratified in full	2 August 1989	—	Original signatory.