| AD HOC GROUP OF THE STATES PARTIES TO THE CONVENTION ON THE PROHIBITION OF THE DEVELOPMENT, PRODUCTION AND STOCKPILING OF BACTERIOLOGICAL (BIOLOGICAL) AND TOXIN WEAPONS AND ON THEIR DESTRUCTION |
BWC/AD HOC GROUP/51 (Part I) 6 April 2000 Original: ENGLISH |
Nineteenth session
Geneva, 13 - 31 March 2000
PROCEDURAL REPORT OF THE AD HOC GROUP OF THE
STATES PARTIES TO THE CONVENTION ON THE PROHIBITION
OF THE DEVELOPMENT, PRODUCTION AND STOCKPILING OF
BACTERIOLOGICAL (BIOLOGICAL) AND TOXIN WEAPONS
AND ON THEIR DESTRUCTION
PART I
1. The Ad Hoc Group of States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction held its nineteenth session at the Palais des Nations, Geneva from 13 to 31 March 2000, in accordance with the decision taken at its seventeenth session. The Group held 28 meetings during that period under the chairmanship of Ambassador Tibor Tóth of Hungary. Ambassador John Campbell of Australia and Ambassador Javier Illanes of Chile served as Vice-Chairmen of the Group. Mr. Vladimir Bogomolov, Political Affairs Officer of the Department of Disarmament Affairs, served as Deputy Secretary of the Group.
2. At the nineteenth session of the Ad Hoc Group, the following States Parties to the Convention participated in the work of the Group: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and United States of America. The following signatory State to the Convention also participated in the work of the Group: Morocco.
3. At the 1st meeting, the Ad Hoc Group decided to continue its consideration of Agenda Item 9 entitled "Strengthening of the Convention in Accordance with the Mandate as it is contained in the Final Report of the Special Conference of the States Parties to the Biological Weapons Convention" (BWC/SPCONF/1, September 1994).
4. At its nineteenth session, the Chairman of the Ad Hoc Group was assisted by Friends of the Chair in his consultations and negotiations on particular issues as follows:
Preamble
- Mr. Malik Azhar Ellahi (Pakistan)
General Provisions
- Ambassador Hubert de La Fortelle (France)
Definitions of Terms and Objective Criteria
- Dr. Ali A. Mohammadi (Islamic Republic of Iran)
Measures to Promote Compliance
- Ambassador Ian Soutar (United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland)
Investigations
- Mr. Peter Goosen (South Africa)
Confidentiality Issues
- Ambassador Dr. Günther Seibert (Germany)
Legal Issues
- Ambassador Leslie Luck (Australia)
National Implementation and Assistance
- Mr. Ajit Kumar (India)
Measures Related to Article X
- Mr. Antonio de Aguiar Patriota (Brazil)
Seat of the Organization
- Ambassador Seiichiro Noboru (Japan)
Declaration Formats (as Friend of the Friend of the Chair
on Measures to Promote Compliance)
- Dr. Anthony Phillips (United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland)
5. Out of the 28 meetings the Ad Hoc Group held in accordance with the programme of work, 1 meeting to "Preamble"; 5/6 of a meeting to "General Provisions"; 4 1/3 meetings to "Definitions of Terms and Objective Criteria"; 5 1/2 meetings to "Measures to Promote Compliance", of which 1 meeting was devoted to "Declaration Formats"; 4 2/3 meetings to "Investigations"; 1/2 of a meeting to "Confidentiality Issues"; 2/3 of a meeting to "Legal Issues"; 1/2 of a meeting to "National Implementation and Assistance"; 2 2/3 meetings to "Measures Related to Article X"; 1/3 of a meeting to "Seat of the Organization"; 2/3 of a meeting to "Organization and Implementational Arrangements"; and 3 informal meetings to "Declaration Formats". The Friends of the Chair were assisted by Mr. Vladimir Bogomolov, and by Ms. Iris Hunger and Mr. Jeremy Littlewood, Professional Assistants.
6. The results of the discussions are attached to this report. (Annex I) In addition to the statement of the Chairman that the position of delegations is not prejudiced by this paper, individual brackets have been introduced to cover specific preliminary concerns of delegations and it is recognized that further and detailed consideration of all elements will be required at future sessions.
7. Proposals for future consideration from the Chairman and Friends of the Chair on the respective parts of the Rolling Text regarding the work undertaken in the respective areas are attached to this report (Annex IV) without prejudice to the positions of delegations. It was reaffirmed that the Rolling Text is the only basis for negotiations in the Ad Hoc Group.
8. In addition to the documents presented at its previous sessions, the Ad Hoc Group had before it three working papers. These are listed in Annex III.
9. The Ad Hoc Group considered and adopted the Indicative Programme of Work for the twentieth session to be held from 10 July to 4 August 2000 (Annex II).
10. At the 28th meeting of the nineteenth session, on 31 March 2000, the Ad Hoc Group considered and adopted the draft procedural report of the session (BWC/AD HOC GROUP/L.86 to L.96 and addenda).
ROLLING TEXT* OF A PROTOCOL TO THE CONVENTION ON THE PROHIBITION OF THE DEVELOPMENT, PRODUCTION AND STOCKPILING OF BACTERIOLOGICAL (BIOLOGICAL) AND TOXIN WEAPONS AND ON THEIR DESTRUCTION
ARTICLE III COMPLIANCE MEASURES
A. [LISTS AND CRITERIA (AGENTS AND TOXINS)]
B. [EQUIPMENT]
C. [THRESHOLDS]
D. DECLARATIONS
E. CONSULTATION, CLARIFICATION AND COOPERATION
F. [MEASURES TO STRENGTHEN THE IMPLENTATION OF ARTICLE III]
G. INVESTIGATIONS
[H. ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS]
ARTICLE IV CONFIDENTIALITY PROVISIONS
ARTICLE V MEASURES TO REDRESS A SITUATION AND TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE
ARTICLE VI ASSISTANCE AND PROTECTION AGAINST BIOLOGICAL AND TOXIN WEAPONS
ARTICLE VII SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL EXCHANGE FOR PEACEFUL PURPOSES AND TECHNICAL COOPERATION
ARTICLE VIII CONFIDENCE-BUILDING MEASURES
ARTICLE X NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION MEASURES
ARTICLE XI RELATIONSHIP OF THE PROTOCOL TO THE BTWC AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS
ARTICLE XII SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES
ARTICLE XIII REVIEW OF THE PROTOCOL
ARTICLE XV DURATION AND WITHDRAWAL
ARTICLE XVI STATUS OF THE ANNEXES AND APPENDICES
Annexes
I. LISTS AND CRITERIA (AGENTS AND TOXINS)
II. LIST OF EQUIPMENT
III. [THRESHOLDS]
IV. PROGRAMMES AND FACILITIES
V. DECLARATION FORMATS
C. [MEASURES TO STRENGTHEN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ARTICLE III]
I. GENERAL PROVISIONS
II. FIELD INVESTIGATIONS
III. FACILITY INVESTIGATIONS
IV. [INVESTIGATIONS WHERE THERE IS A CONCERN THAT A TRANSFER HAS TAKEN PLACE IN VIOLATION OF ARTICLE III OF THE CONVENTION]
[V. INVESTIGATIONS OF NATURAL AND UNUSUAL OUTBREAKS OF DISEASE]
I. GENERAL PRINCIPLES FOR THE HANDLING OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
II. CONDITIONS OF STAFF EMPLOYMENT RELATING TO THE PROTECTION OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
III. PROCEDURES IN CASE OF BREACHES OR ALLEGED BREACHES OF CONFIDENTIALITY
F. SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL EXCHANGE FOR PEACEFUL PURPOSES AND TECHNICAL COOPERATION
G. CONFIDENCE-BUILDING MEASURES
I. SURVEILLANCE OF PUBLICATIONS
II. SURVEILLANCE OF LEGISLATION
III. DATA ON TRANSFERS AND TRANSFER REQUESTS AND ON PRODUCTION
IV. MULTILATERAL INFORMATION SHARING
V. EXCHANGE VISITS (INTERNATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS AND OFF-SITE VISITS)
VI. CONFIDENCE-BUILDING VISITS
Appendices
B. DECLARATIONS OF CURRENT DEFENSIVE BIOLOGICAL AND TOXIN PROGRAMMES [AND/OR ACTIVITIES]
[D. LISTING OF FACILITIES PARTICIPATING IN BIOLOGICAL DEFENSIVE ACTIVITIES]
E. INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED IN THE DECLARATIONS REQUIRED UNDER PARAGRAPHS ... OF ARTICLE VII
F. [LIST OF APPROVED INVESTIGATION/VISIT EQUIPMENT]
[G. STANDARDIZED FORMATS FOR REPORTING INTERNATIONAL TRANSFERS OF EQUIPMENT]
* This rolling text is without prejudice to the positions of delegations on the issues under consideration in the Ad Hoc Group and does not imply agreement on the scope or content.