BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION MEMBERS BEGIN NEW PROCESS

BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION MEMBERS BEGIN NEW PROCESS

Experts to Meet in Geneva to Discuss Ways

Of Strengthening National Measures against Biological Weapons

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 15 August (UN Information Service) -- The first Meeting of Experts from States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction will be held in Geneva from 18 to 29 August 2003.  The Convention, generally known as the Biological Weapons Convention, prohibits the development, production and stockpiling of biological and toxin weapons.

The Meeting of Experts is the first stage of a new process established by the Fifth Review Conference of the Convention, which concluded its resumed session in November 2002 following a controversial suspension in December 2001.  The suspension was due to serious disagreements among States Parties on how to proceed following the collapse of negotiations on a legally-binding protocol to strengthen the Convention.  At its resumed session, however, the Review Conference decided by consensus that States Parties would meet annually (until the next Review Conference in 2006) to “discuss, and promote common understanding and effective action on” specific topics related to better implementation of the Convention.  Each of these annual meetings would be preceded by a meeting of experts.

This first Meeting of Experts will address two topics:  the adoption of necessary national measures to implement the prohibitions set forth in the Convention, including the enactment of penal legislation (to be covered in the first week, 18 to 22 August); and national mechanisms to establish and maintain the security and oversight of pathogenic microorganisms and toxins (to be covered in the second week, 25 to 29 August).

The experts are expected to discuss technical aspects of a range of experiences and ideas involved in national implementation of the Convention, and will prepare the ground for the annual meeting of States Parties, scheduled for

10 to 14 November.  As well as national delegations, experts from a range of international organizations, including the World Health Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization and the Office International des Epizooties (OIE), will share their knowledge.

The Meeting of Experts will be chaired by Ambassador Tibor Tóth of Hungary, who also chaired the Fifth Review Conference.  Ambassador Tóth has reiterated his belief that the establishment of the new process indicates that States Parties have overcome the difficulties of the Review Conference and are ready to dedicate themselves to innovative and constructive work to strengthen the Convention.

In 2004, the focus of the new process will shift to enhancing international capabilities for responding to, investigating and mitigating the effects of cases of alleged use of biological weapons or suspicious outbreaks of disease, and to strengthening national and international efforts against infectious diseases.  The 2005 meetings will address codes of conduct for scientists.

The Biological Weapons Convention, which opened for signature in 1972 and entered into force in 1975, is the first multilateral disarmament treaty banning an entire category of weapons.  It currently has 150 States Parties, with a further 16 having signed but not yet ratified.

For further information, please contact:  Richard Lennane, Secretariat of the Biological Weapons ConventionMeeting of Experts; tel.:  +41 (0)22 917 1376 or +41 (0)22 917 7125; fax:  +41 (0)22 917 0034; e-mail:  rlennane@unog.ch

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