Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction

Welcomes the information and data provided to date, and reiterates its call upon all States parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction to participate in the exchange of information and data agreed to in the Final Declaration of the 3rd Review Conference of the Parties to the Convention; welcomes the progress achieved so far in the negotiation of a protocol to strengthen the Convention, and reaffirms the decision of the 4th Review Conference urging the conclusion of the negotiations by the Ad Hoc Group as soon as possible before the commencement of the 5th Review Conference and urging it to submit its report, which shall be adopted by consensus, to the States parties to be considered at a special conference; calls upon all States parties, in this context, to accelerate the negotiations and to redouble their efforts within the Ad Hoc Group to formulate an efficient, cost-effective and practical regime and seek early resolution of the oustanding issues through renewed flexibility in order to complete the protocol on the basis of consensus at the earliest possible date; requests the Secretary-General to continue to render the necessary assistance to the depositary Governments of the Convention and to provide such services as may be required for the implementation of the decisions and recommendations of the Review Conferences, as well as the decisions contained in the final report of the Special Conference, including all necessary assistance to the Ad Hoc Group.

Adopted without vote, 79th meeting

3 p.

Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, 4 Dec. 1998.