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20 November-8 December 2006
A Brief summary of the opening addresses delivered on 20th November 2006 is given below-
The UN Secretary-General's remarks to the sixth review conference of the biological weapons convention-
In his speech, Mr. Kofi Annan highlighted the threat of bio terrorism and the risk of emerging infectious diseases and the ensuing challenges that the twin put forth for the BWC. He identified the Convention as one of the arm of the multi-prong strategy that needs to involve actor like-industry, science, public health, governments, and the public to restrain the proliferation of biological weapons and prevent their use.
The President of the Sixth Review Conference of the BWC, Ambassador Masood Khan (Pakistan)-
In his statement Ambassador Khan regarded the threat of biological weapons more deadly than nuclear weapons. He also stressed the need to foster the growth of scientific development and simultaneously evolve measures to prevent its malign use.
On 20th November, India recorded its statement at the Review Conference
Mr. Jayant Prasad, Ambassador & Permanent Representative of India to the Conference on Disarmament stated that Bio-terrorism was regarded as a serious threat facing the BWC. In order to combat this threat India advocated its support for an institutional framework for the convention and also to measures to encompass greater participation of the non-members. Some of the other issues that were highlighted were- biosecurity, bridging the scientific divide between countries, strengthening disease preparedness measures etc.
The paper is available at-http://www.bwpp.org/6RevCon/6thRevConResources.html
Highlights
The following Update is based on the daily reports generated by BWPP, made available via E-mail.
First Day (20 November)
31 Presentations by state members were made.
US alleged that Iran, North Korea and Syria were involved in developing offensive biological weapons capabilities.
Iran dismissed the US allegations as baseless.
Second Day (21 November)
Syria denied the allegations made by US on day one.
Egypt declared that its stand of non-ratification of the BTWC is linked with Israel not being a signatory of the Convention and Israel's alleged possession of nuclear weapons.
Third Day (22 November)
Proceedings in the Committee of the Whole (CoW) become important. The CoW is constituted to carry out an article-by-article review of the Convention.
Fourth day (23 November)
Russia, informs the Conference that Iran has put forth a request to amend the Convention with regards to the use of biological weapons.
Seventh day (28 November)
A 'first reading'of the article-by-article review of the Convention is completed.
A report cites a record of 53rd CBM return to the Convention this year.
Eighth day (28 November)
An updated draft final declaration, after the closed door CoW meetings is distributed.
Ninth day (30 November)
The CoW finishes its work and its report is adapted.
The President of the Review Conference circulated a paper that brings out eleven possible topics for meetings in 2007-10.
A bowling championship, a part of the tradition at the BWC Review Conferences, aptly called the 'Bowling World Cup' is hosted by Malaysia, the Netherlands and Switzerland at Geneva.
Tenth day (1 December)
A new draft final declaration is distributed.
The Composition of the new inter-sessional work programme and the question of an action plan for Article X, remain the outstanding issues.
Eleventh day (4 December)
Informal consultations on outstanding issues.
Some of the other issues that were discussed are-
Text for the Preamble, Article XI and Article XII sections of the final declaration.
Twelfth day (5 December)
Informal consultations and plenaries on outstanding issues carry on.
A new version of the draft final declaration is circulated.
An action plan combining elements of the proposed action plans on national implementation and on Article X is proposed by the President of the Review Conference.
Thirteenth day (6 December)
Differences emerge amongst the member states regarding the action plan. Article X emerged as the issue of contention.
The list of topics to be discussed in the inter-sessional meetings is reduced. Two items relating to preparedness and response, to provision of assistance in cases of alleged use, and to disease surveillance are put as one.
Fifteenth day (8 December 2006)
On the closing day of the Review Conference the following were adopted- Final declaration with an article-by-article review
New inter-sessional process,
The agenda for future inter-sessional meetings was also agreed.
Implementation Support Unit (ISU)
ISU will deal with various aspects of CBMs and ‘administrative support’.
Programme to promote universality
Under this “an annual report on universalisation activities shall be made by the Chairs of the Meetings of States Parties and a progress report submitted to the Seventh Review Conference”.
The ‘action plans’, a subject of debate, did not feature in the final document.
‘Romanito’, a term that describe the lower case roman numerals as paragraph numbers entered the disarmament lexicon.
The President of the Review Conference, Ambassador Masood Khan (Pakistan), was optimistic about the progress made in regard to CBMs, the measures to ensure greater participation and ISUs
This update is based on information provided at the following websites-
1. http://www.opbw.org/
2. http://www.wilpf.int.ch/disarmament/BWC/index.html
3. http://www.bwpp.org/6RevCon/RevConStatements.html