2015 MEETING OF STATES PARTIES TO THE BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION CONCLUDES

States Parties to the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) have concluded the 2015 Meeting of States Parties (MSP), held at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 14 to 18 December. The meeting was chaired by Ambassador Mazlan Muhammad of Malaysia with the support of Ambassador Henk Cor van der Kwast of the Netherlands, and Ambassador György Molnár of Hungary, as Vice-Chairs.

The conclusion of the MSP marks the end of the fourth and last year of the current intersessional programme mandated by the Seventh BWC Review Conference in 2011. Next year will see States Parties gather for the Eighth Review Conference in November 2016.

Closing the meeting on 18 December, the Chairman noted, “Although the Convention is faced with many challenges on the eve of the 2016 Eighth Review Conference, delegations worked this week in an efficient, effective and productive manner in order to ensure a valuable contribution to the forthcoming Review Conference.”

Participation in the meeting was broad, bringing together representatives from 112 States Parties to the Convention, three signatory States, and two States neither parties nor signatories. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the European Union, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the League of Arab States, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the World Organization for Animal Health, were granted observer status to participate in the Meeting. Individuals from 27 non-governmental organizations and academic institutions also enriched the meeting through their attendance and interventions during an informal segment as well as several side events.

In the context of discussions on universalization of the Convention, States Parties were especially pleased to welcome Andorra and Mauritania as new State Parties, bringing the Convention’s membership to 173 States Parties. The Meeting also noted a report by the Chairman on progress with universalization which noted positive progress towards BWC membership in several States, including Cote d’Ivoire and Angola.

The MSP sought to convert the many ideas and proposals discussed at the Meeting of Experts (10 to 14 August 2015) into a more concise, focused product in order to promote common understandings and effective action. Discussion was held on three standing agenda items and one biennial item as decided upon by the Seventh Review Conference:

- (Standing agenda item) Cooperation and assistance, with a particular focus on strengthening cooperation and assistance under Article X;
- (Standing agenda item) Review of developments in the field of science and technology related to the Convention;
- (Standing agenda item) Strengthening national implementation;
- (Biennial agenda item) Strengthening Article VII of the Convention, including consideration of detailed procedures and mechanisms for the provision of assistance and cooperation by States Parties.




The MSP also noted the annual report of the Implementation Support Unit and expressed its satisfaction with the work of the Unit. The MSP called on States Parties to continue working closely with the ISU in fulfilling its mandate.

This year’s Meeting of States Parties also discussed and approved arrangements for the Eighth Review Conference and its Preparatory Committee in 2016. The Meeting decided that the Review Conference would be held in Geneva from 7 to 25 November 2016. The Meeting also decided that the Preparatory Committee would be held in Geneva for up to two days from 26 to 27 April 2016 and would resume its work from 8 to 12 August 2016. The Meeting approved the nomination of Ambassador György Molnár of Hungary as President of the Review Conference and Chairman of the Preparatory Committee. The Meeting also approved the estimated costs for the Review Conference and the Preparatory Committee.

An advance copy of the report of the Meeting of States Parties is available at http://www.unog.ch/80256EDD006B8954/(httpAssets)/3A6048A29D9B0448C1257F20007DC436/$file/BWC+MSP2015+Advance+Copy.pdf and the final report will be issued in all official languages early in 2016.

For further information, please contact:

Mr. Daniel Feakes
Chief, BWC Implementation Support Unit
Tel +41 (0)22 917 22 30
Fax +41 (0)22 917 04 83

Or:

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For use of the information media; not an official record

DC15/052E