STATES PARTIES TO BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION END LATEST SESSION

Press Release
DCF/342

STATES PARTIES TO BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION END LATEST SESSION

GENEVA, 10 July (UN Information Service) -- The Ad Hoc Group of States parties to the Biological Weapons Convention concluded its eleventh session today in Geneva.

During the three-week meeting, which opened on 22 June, the Ad Hoc Group engaged in intensive negotiations on a draft rolling text of a compliance and verification Protocol to the Convention. The issues discussed included measures to promote compliance, investigations, measures relating to article X of the Convention (scientific and technical cooperation for peaceful purposes), legal issues, organization/implementation arrangements, confidentiality, national implementation and assistance, and definitions of terms and objective criteria.

Progress was made on all issues examined. The outcome of the discussions will be reflected in a new "rolling text" which will be submitted to the twelfth session of the Group to be held from 14 September to 9 October 1998.

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