FIFTH REVIEW CONFERENCE 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
Resumed Session, Geneva, 11-22 November
2002
Draft Decision of the Fifth Review Conference
of the States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of
the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological
(Biological) Weapons and on Their Destruction
1. The Conference decides to hold three
annual meetings of the States Parties of one week duration each
year commencing in 2003 until the Sixth Review Conference, to
be held not later than the end of 2006, to discuss, and promote
common understanding and effective action on:
i. the adoption of necessary national
measures to implement the prohibitions set forth in the Convention,
including the enactment of penal legislation;
ii. national mechanisms to establish
and maintain the security and oversight of pathogenic microorganisms
and toxins;
iii. enhancing international capabilities
for responding to, investigating and mitigating the effects of
cases of alleged use of biological or toxin weapons or suspicious
outbreaks of disease;
iv. strengthening and broadening national
and international institutional efforts and existing mechanisms
for the surveillance, detection, diagnosis and combating of infectious
diseases affecting humans, animal and plants; and
v. the content, promulgation and adoption
of codes of conduct for scientists.
2. All meetings, both of experts and of
States Parties, will reach any conclusions or results by consensus.
3. Each meeting of the States Parties will
be prepared by a two week meeting of experts. The topics for consideration
at each annual meeting of States Parties will be as follows: items
i and ii will be considered in 2003; items iii and iv in 2004;
item v in 2005. The first meeting will be chaired by a representative
of the Eastern Group, the second by a representative of the Group
of the Group of Non-Aligned and Other States, and the third by
a representative of the Western Group.
4. The meetings of experts will prepare
factual reports describing their work.
5. The Sixth Review Conference will consider
the work of these meetings and decide on any further action.
6 November 2002
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