STATES PARTIES TO BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION TO MEET NEXT WEEK IN GENEVA; AIM IS TO STRENGTHEN IMPLEMENTATION

STATES PARTIES TO BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION TO MEET NEXT WEEK IN GENEVA;

AIM IS TO STRENGTHEN IMPLEMENTATION

GENEVA, 7 November (UN Information Service) -- The first of three annual meetings of the States Parties to the biological weapons Convention will be held in Geneva from 10 to 14 November 2003, in a new process to strengthen the implementation and effectiveness of the Convention.

The Convention prohibits its members from developing or otherwise acquiring or retaining biological or toxin weapons.  It is formally known as the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction.  It was opened for signature in 1972, and entered into force in 1975, and is the first multilateral disarmament treaty banning an entire category of weapons.  It currently has 151 States Parties, with a further 16 having signed, but not yet ratified.

The States Parties meeting will develop the work begun at an August meeting of experts on two topics:  the adoption of necessary national measures to implement the prohibitions set forth in the Convention, including penal legislation; and national mechanisms to establish the security of pathogenic micro-organisms and toxins.  The aim is to give greater practical effect to the prohibitions contained in the Convention through the sharing of information, ideas and best practices among States Parties.

Delegates are expected to participate in a higher-level and more pragmatic discussion of ideas and proposals related to improved national implementation of the Convention, which were discussed at the meeting of experts.  Ambassador Tibor Tóth of Hungary, Chairman of both meetings, said today that he was optimistic that the States Parties would be ready to take the next step, beyond the technical discussions held at the meeting of experts.  The focus would be on practical measures dealing with the key common themes that had emerged at that meeting.

At meetings 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.

For further information, please contact:  Richard Lennane, tel: +41 (0)22 917 1376 or +41 (0)22 917 7153, fax: +41 (0)22 917 0034, e-mail: rlennane@unog.ch.

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