Sixth Review Conference

The Sixth Review Conference of the States Parties to the Biological Weapons Convention was held in Geneva from 20 November to 8 December 2006.Ambassador Masood Khan (Pakistan) was the President of the Review Conference.

Final Document of the Sixth Review Conference (BWC/CONF.VI/6)

President’s closing remarks

Extract from the closing remarks of Ambassador Masood Khan, President of the Sixth Review Conference

“After a gap of ten years, we have thoroughly and comprehensively reviewed all articles of the Convention, and agreed on a declaration setting out our shared vision of the Convention and its implementation. This in itself is a strong message to the international community that the Convention is alive and well, and remains effective as the fundamental legal norm against biological weapons.

We have unequivocally reaffirmed that the Convention applies to all relevant scientific and technological developments, and effectively prohibits the use of biological weapons.

We have emphasized the need for effective national implementation of the Convention, and for measures to promote the development of the peaceful uses of biological agents and toxins.

We have adopted a specific and detailed plan to promote universal adherence to the Convention.

We have streamlined and updated the procedures for the submission and distribution of the Confidence-building Measures, and taken practical steps to increase the level of participation.

We have adopted a full and comprehensive intersessional programme for 2007 to 2010, where we will address the important topics of national implementation, regional cooperation, biosafety and biosecurity, oversight and awareness-raising, enhancement of international cooperation and exchange in biological science and technology, and assistance in the case of alleged use of biological weapons.

And perhaps most historically of all, we have agreed to establish an Implementation Support Unit to assist us in implementing the decisions of this Conference. For many years, the States Parties have debated the need for institutional support for the Convention. Now we have it, built not on a political argument, nor on a perception that “something is better than nothing”, but on the solid basis of the positive and practical contribution the temporary secretariat has made over the past three years. We know we will be getting a professional, efficient and dedicated unit that will make a significant contribution to our important work over the next four years.”

Read the full text of the President’s remarks here.

Official Documents of the Sixth Review Conference

BWC/CONF.VI/1 Provisional Agenda for the Sixth Review Conference

BWC/CONF.VI/2 Provisional Indicative Programme of Work

BWC/CONF.VI/3 Report of the Committee of the Whole

BWC/CONF.VI/4 Estimated Costs of Meetings in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 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 – Note by the Secretariat

BWC/CONF.VI/5 Report of the Credentials Committee

BWC/CONF.VI/5/Corr.1 Report of the Credentials Committee

English

BWC/CONF.VI/6 Final Document of the Conference

BWC/CONF.VI/INF.1 Additional understandings and agreements reached by previous review conferences relating to each article of the Convention

BWC/CONF.VI/INF.1/Corr.1 Additional understandings and agreements reached by previous review conferences relating to each article of the Convention

English

BWC/CONF.VI/INF.2 Background Information Document on Developments since the Last Review Conference in other International Organizations which may be Relevant to the Convention

BWC/CONF.VI/INF.2/Corr.1 Background Information Document on Developments since the Last Review Conference in other International Organizations which may be Relevant to the Convention

English

BWC/CONF.VI/INF.3 Background Information Document on the History and Operation of the Confidence-Building Measures

BWC/CONF.VI/INF.3/Corr.1 Background Information Document on the History and Operation of the Confidence-Building Measures

English

BWC/CONF.VI/INF.3/Add.1 Background Information Document on the History and Operation of the Confidence-Building Measures

BWC/CONF.VI/INF.4 Background Information Document on New Scientific and Technological Developments Relevant to the Convention

BWC/CONF.VI/INF.5 Background Information Document on Status of Universality of the Convention

BWC/CONF.VI/INF.6 Background Information Document on Compliance by States Parties with their Obligations under the Convention

English

BWC/CONF.VI/INF.7 Franco-Swiss International Seminar On The Protocol For The Prohibition Of The Use In War Of Asphyxiating, Poisonous Or Other Gases, And Of Bacteriological Methods Of Warfare, Signed In Geneva On 17 June 1925 – Submitted by France and Switzerland

BWC/CONF.VI/INF.8 List of Participants

BWC/CONF.VI/WP.1 Accountability Framework – Submitted by Canada

BWC/CONF.VI/WP.2 Biosafety and Biosecurity – Submitted by Germany on behalf of the European Union

BWC/CONF.VI/WP.3 Assessment of National Implementation of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) – Submitted by Germany on behalf of the European Union

BWC/CONF.VI/WP.4 Enhancement of the Confidence-Building Measure (CBM) Process – Submitted by France on behalf of the European Union

BWC/CONF.VI/WP.5 Article X of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) – Submitted by Finland on behalf of the European Union

BWC/CONF.VI/WP.6 Increasing Universal Adherence to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) – Submitted by Italy on behalf of the European Union

BWC/CONF.VI/WP.7 Implementation of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC): Need For a Concerted and Coordinated Approach – Submitted by The Netherlands on behalf of the European Union

BWC/CONF.VI/WP.8 The Intersessional Programme of Work: Its Utility and Contribution to Fulfilling the Object And Purpose of the Convention Between 2003-2005 and a Case for Further Intersessional Work After 2006 – Submitted by France and the United Kingdom on behalf of the European Union

BWC/CONF.VI/WP.9 Universalization – Submitted by Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay

BWC/CONF.VI/WP.10 Scientific Cooperation and Technology Transfer Article X – Submitted By Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru And Uruguay

BWC/CONF.VI/WP.11 Follow-Up Mechanism – Submitted by Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay

BWC/CONF.VI/WP.12 Confidence-Building Measures – Submitted by Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay

BWC/CONF.VI/WP.13 Support Unit – Submitted by Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay

BWC/CONF.VI/WP.14 Actions to Improve Confidence-Building Measures – Submitted by Switzerland

BWC/CONF.VI/WP.15 An Action Plan for Realising the Universalisation of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention – Submitted by Australia

BWC/CONF.VI/WP.16 Support Unit for the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention – Submitted by Norway

BWC/CONF.VI/WP.17 Review of National Implementation of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention – Submitted by Japan

BWC/CONF.VI/WP.18 The Intersessional Process – Submitted by New Zealand

BWC/CONF.VI/WP.19 Universality of the BWC – Submitted by the Republic of Korea

BWC/CONF.VI/WP.20 New Inter-Sessional Process – Submitted by South Africa

BWC/CONF.VI/WP.21 Confidence Building Measures – Submitted by South Africa

BWC/CONF.VI/WP.22 Bioterrorism – Submitted by Italy on behalf of the European Union

BWC/CONF.VI/WP.23 Codes of Conduct for Scientists – Submitted by the United Kingdom

BWC/CONF.VI/WP.24 Article X of the Convention – Submitted by the Islamic Republic of Iran

BWC/CONF.VI/WP.25 Prohibition of Use of Biological Weapons – Submitted By The Islamic Republic Of Iran

BWC/CONF.VI/WP.26 Preliminary Comments on Article I of the Convention – Submitted by the States Parties of the Non Aligned Movement and Other States

BWC/CONF.VI/WP.27 Confronting Noncompliance with the Biological Weapons Convention – Submitted by the United States of America

BWC/CONF.VI/WP.28 United States Progress on 2003-2005 Work Program Topics – Submitted by the United States of America

BWC/CONF.VI/WP.29 Article X of the Convention – Submitted by the States Parties of the Non-Aligned Movement and other States

BWC/CONF.VI/WP.30 Actions, Measures or other Steps that Japan has Taken on the Basis of the Discussions at the Meetings of Experts and of the Outcome of the Meetings of States Parties to the BWC in 2003, 2004 and 2005 – Submitted by Japan

BWC/CONF.VI/WP.31 Information on Compliance with the Convention – Submitted by Ukraine

BWC/CONF.VI/WP.32 Intersessional Ad Hoc Mechanism, to be Established between the Sixth and Seventh Review Conferences of the BWC – Submitted by the States Parties of the Non-Aligned Movement and other States

BWC/CONF.VI/WP.33 Technical Assistance, Exchange and Cooperation Undertaken by Australia in the Field of Biotechnology – Submitted by Australia

BWC/CONF.VI/WP.34 Report of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) Regional Workshops Co-Hosted by Indonesia and Australia – Submitted by Australia and Indonesia

BWC/CONF.VI/WP.35 Proposals for the Final Declaration – Submitted by the Islamic Republic of Iran

BWC/CONF.VI/WP.35/Corr.1 Proposals for the Final Declaration – Submitted by the Islamic Republic of Iran

English

BWC/CONF.VI/WP.36 Article VI and the UN Secretary-General’s Mechanism for Investigating Alleged Use of Chemical and Biological Weapons – Submitted by Germany

BWC/CONF.VI/WP.37 Proposal for the Modification of the Format of Confidence-building Measures Forms – Submitted by Switzerland

BWC/CONF.VI/WP.38 Report on Compliance – Submitted by Canada

BWC/CONF.VI/WP.39 Proposal for a Plan of Action on Implementation of Article X – Submitted by the States Parties of the Non-Aligned Movement and other States

BWC/CONF.VI/SR.1 Summary Report of the First Session

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BWC/CONF.VI/SR.2 Summary Report of the Second Session

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BWC/CONF.VI/SR.3 Summary Report of the Third Session

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BWC/CONF.VI/SR.4 Summary Report of the Fourth Session

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BWC/CONF.VI/SR.5 Summary Report of the Fifth Session

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BWC/CONF.VI/SR.6 Summary Report of the Sixth Session

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