1.   Canada promised to destroy its stockpiles by the December signing conference.

2.   The United States has no timetable for the Paris talks, which would be followed by the signing conference, attended by heads of state.

3.   The Vatican took part in the preparatory meetings for the signing conference, to run from Tuesday to Thursday, he said.

4.   While the signing conference itself is a formality, the accords will have teeth when lawmakers back home update their laws.

5.   But a French government spokesman in Paris said the signing conference would take place regardless.