AD HOC GROUP OF THE STATES PARTIES

TO THE CONVENTION ON THE PROHIBITION

OF THE DEVELOPMENT, PRODUCTION AND BWC/AD HOC GROUP/55-1

STOCKPILING OF BACTERIOLOGICAL 1 March 2001

(BIOLOGICAL) AND TOXIN WEAPONS

AND ON THEIR DESTRUCTION Original: ENGLISH

Twenty-second session

Geneva, 12 - 23 February 2001

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

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 twenty-second session at the Palais des Nations, Geneva from 12 - 23 February 2001, in accordance with the decision taken at its twenty-first session. The Group held 11 meetings during that period under the chairmanship of Ambassador Tibor Tóth of Hungary. Ambassador Leslie Luck of Australia and Ambassador Juan Enrique Vega Patri of Chile served as Vice-Chairmen of the Group. Mr. Vladimir Bogomolov, Political Affairs Officer, Department for Disarmament Affairs, served as Secretary of the Group.

2. At the twenty-second session, the following States Parties to the Convention participated in the work of the Ad Hoc Group: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, and Yemen. The following signatory States to the Convention also participated in the work of the Group: Egypt, Morocco and Myanmar.

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 of the Biological Weapons Convention” (BWC/SPCONF/1, September 1994).

4. At the twenty-second 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)

Measures Related to Article X

- Mr. Antonio de Aguiar Patriota (Brazil)

Declaration Formats

- Dr. Anthony Phillips (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)

Seat of the Organization

- Ambassador Seiichiro Noboru (Japan)

Additionally, the Ad Hoc Group was assisted by Facilitators in the following areas:

Decision on the establishment of a Preparatory Commission

- Mr. Peter Goosen (South Africa), Mr. Fu Zhigang (China) and Mr. Gennady A. Loutai (Russian Federation)

Editorial issues in the Protocol

- Dr. Ben Steyn (South Africa) and Dr. John Walker (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)

Harmonization of timelines for activities and measures in the Protocol

- Ambassador Ali Ashgar Soltanieh (Islamic Republic of Iran)

Structural harmonization of issues in the Protocol

- Ambassador Henrik Salander (Sweden)

The Headquarters Agreement with the Host Country

- Ambassador Donald A. Mahley (United States of America) assisted by Ambassador Krzysztof Jakubowski (Poland), Mr. Adrian White (Australia), Mr. Malik Azhar Ellahi (Pakistan), Ms. Katarina Rangnitt (Sweden), Sra. Anayansi Rodríguez Camejo (Cuba) and Mr. Reza Pourmand Tehrani (Islamic Republic of Iran) as well as additional personnel as considered necessary

5. Out of the 11 meetings available to the Ad Hoc Group in accordance with the programme of work, 1 1/2 meetings were devoted to plenary meetings.

6. In accordance with the programme of work, the Group devoted 1/2 of a meeting to “Preamble”; 1/3 of a meeting to “General Provisions”; 2 meetings to “Definitions of Terms and Objective Criteria”; 1 5/6 meetings to “Measures to Promote Compliance”; 1/2 of a meeting to “Investigations”; 2/3 of a meeting to “Confidentiality Issues”; 2/3 of a meeting to “Measures Related to Article X”; 1 5/6 meetings to “Declaration Formats”; 2/3 of a meeting to “Seat of the Organization”; 1/3 of a meeting to “Decision on the establishment of a Preparatory Commission”; and 1/6 of a meeting to “The Headquarters Agreement with the Host Country”. The Friends of the Chair were assisted by Ms. Iris Hunger and Mr. Jeremy Littlewood, Associate Officers, and Mr. Ye Min Than, Professional Assistant.

7. The results of the discussions are attached to this report (Annex I). In addition to the statement of the Chairman that the positions of delegations are 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. It was reaffirmed that the Rolling Text is the only basis for negotiations in the Ad Hoc Group.

8. Throughout the two weeks of the twenty-second session, the Chairman conducted a series of bilateral consultations with representatives of States Parties participating in the work of the Ad Hoc Group. The consultations focussed on issues in the Rolling Text on which there were strong conceptual differences in views. The consultations were aimed at a conceptual exploration of possible future solutions in the following areas: General Provisions; Definitions; Lists and Criteria, Equipment and Thresholds; Declarations; Measures to Ensure Submission of Declarations; Follow-up After Submission of Declarations; Consultation, Clarification and Cooperation; Investigations; Additional Provisions on Declarations, Visits and Investigations; Confidentiality Provisions; Measures to Redress a Situation and to Ensure Compliance; Assistance and Protection Against Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons; Scientific and Technological Exchange for Peaceful Purposes and Technical Cooperation; Confidence-Building Measures; The Organization; National Implementation Measures; Legal Issues; Lists and Criteria (Agents and Toxins); List of Equipment; Annex on Investigations; Annex on Confidentiality Provisions. At the end of the session the Chairman provided an overall oral summary regarding those consultations.

9. In addition to the documents presented at its previous sessions, the Ad Hoc Group had before it seven working papers. These are listed in Annex III.

10. The Ad Hoc Group considered and adopted the Indicative Programme of Work for the twenty-third session to be held from 23 April to 11 May 2001 (Annex II).

11. At the 11th meeting of the twenty-second session, on 23 February 2001, the Ad Hoc Group considered and adopted the draft procedural report of the session (BWC/AD HOC GROUP/L.117 to L.124).