BWC Official Statements
This page contains statements from past official meetings of the States Parties to the Biological Weapons Convention, in reverse chronological order. All meetings were held in Geneva.
For Official Statements since 2006, see the pages for the individual meetings.
Sixth Review Conference (20 November - 8 December 2006)
Sixth Review Conference (20 November - 8 December 2006)
The Sixth Review Conference was presided over by Ambassador Masood Khan of Pakistan. It was attended by 103 States Parties, 10 Signatory States, 1 Observer State, 7 international organizations and 33 non-governmental organizations. In addition to reviewing the operation of the Convention and relevant scientific and technological developments, the Review Conference wrapped up the 2003 – 2005 Intersessional Process, created the 2007 – 2010 Intersessional Process, established an Implementation Support Unit, updated annual exchanges of information and agreed a plan of action on the promotion of universalization.
Sixth Review Conference Preparatory Committee (26 - 28 April 2006)
Sixth Review Conference Preparatory Committee (26 - 28 April 2006)
The Preparatory Committee for the Sixth Review Conference was chaired by Ambassador Masood Khan of Pakistan. It was attended by 78 States Parties, 6 Signatory States, 1 Observer State and 11 non-governmental organizations. It decided organizational and financial details for the Fifth Review Conference.
- Introductory Statement by the Chairman
- Statement by the Group of the Non-aligned Movement and Other States
- Statement by the European Union
- Joint Declaration by Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay
- Statement by Canada on behalf of Australia, Canada and New Zealand
Meeting of States Parties in 2005 (5 – 9 December 2005)
Meeting of States Parties in 2005 (5 – 9 December 2005)
The 2005 Meeting of States Parties was chaired by Ambassador John Freeman of the United Kingdom. It met to discuss, and promote common understanding and effective action on codes of conduct for scientists. It was well attended by 87 States Parties, 7 Signatory States, 2 Observer States, 4 international organizations and 18 non-governmental organizations.
Meeting of Experts in 2005 (13 – 24 June 2005)
Meeting of Experts in 2005 (13 – 24 June 2005)
The 2005 Meeting of Experts was chaired by Ambassador John Freeman of the United Kingdom. It met to discuss, and promote common understanding and effective action on codes of conduct for scientists. It was well attended by 82 States Parties, 3 Signatory States, an Observer State, 8 international organizations and 16 non-governmental organizations. 23 scientific, professional, academic and industry bodies participated in informal exchanges in the open sessions as guests of the meeting.
Meeting of States Parties in 2004 (6 – 10 December 2004)
Meeting of States Parties in 2004 (6 – 10 December 2004)
The 2004 Meeting of States Parties was chaired by Peter Goosen of South Africa. It met to discuss, and promote common understanding and effective action on mechanisms for the surveillance, detection, diagnosis and combating of infectious diseases affecting humans, animals, and plants, as well as capabilities for responding to, investigating and mitigating the effects of cases of alleged use of biological or toxin weapons or suspicious outbreaks of disease. It was well attended by 89 States Parties, 5 Signatory States, 2 Observer States, 4 international organizations and 14 non-governmental organizations.
Meeting of Experts in 2004 (19 – 30 July 2004)
Meeting of Experts in 2004 (19 – 30 July 2004)
The 2004 Meeting of Experts was chaired by Peter Goosen of South Africa. It met to discuss, and promote common understanding and effective action on mechanisms for the surveillance, detection, diagnosis and combating of infectious diseases affecting humans, animals, and plants, as well as capabilities for responding to, investigating and mitigating the effects of cases of alleged use of biological or toxin weapons or suspicious outbreaks of disease. It was well attended by 87 States Parties, 4 Signatory States, 2 Observer States, 4 international organizations and 11 non-governmental organizations.
Meeting of States Parties in 2003 (10 – 14 November 2003)
Meeting of States Parties in 2003 (10 – 14 November 2003)
The 2003 Meeting of States Parties was chaired by Ambassador Tibor Toth of Hungary. It met to discuss, and promote common understanding and effective action on national measures to implement the prohibitions set forth in the Convention as well as national mechanisms to establish and maintain the security and oversight of pathogenic microorganisms and toxins. It was well attended by 92 States Parties, 4 Signatory States, 2 Observer States, 2 international organizations and 9 non-governmental organizations.
Meeting of Experts in 2003 (18-29 August 2003)
Meeting of Experts in 2003 (18-29 August 2003)
The 2003 Meeting of Experts was chaired by Ambassador Tibor Toth of Hungary. It met to discuss, and promote common understanding and effective action on national measures to implement the prohibitions set forth in the Convention as well as national mechanisms to establish and maintain the security and oversight of pathogenic microorganisms and toxins. It was well attended by 83 States Parties, 2 Signatory States, an Observer State, 8 international organizations and 15 non-governmental organizations.
Fifth Review Conference (19 November – 7 December 2001 And 11 – 22 November 2002)
Fifth Review Conference (19 November – 7 December 2001 And 11 – 22 November 2002)
The Fifth Review Conference held two sessions, an original in 2001 and a resumed in 2002. Both were presided over by Ambassador Tibor Toth of Hungary. The original session was suspended by the President when it became apparent that there were significant differences in oppinion as to how best to move the Convention forward. After a further year of informal consultations, the resumed session saw States Parties agreeing to initiate a series of annual meetings prior to the Sixth Review Conference in 2006.
Fifth Review Conference Preparatory Committee (25 – 27 April 2001)
Fifth Review Conference Preparatory Committee (25 – 27 April 2001)
The Preparatory Committee for the Fifth Review Conference was held during the 23rd Session of the Ad Hoc Group. It was chaired by Ambassador Tibor Toth of Hungary. It was attended by 68 States Parties and decided organizational and financial details for the Fifth Review Conference.
No records remain of statements to the Preparatory Committe for the Fifth Review Conference
Other Meetings
Other Meetings
Statements from these meetings, where they exist, are archived in the offices in Geneva. For more information, please see the contact page.
- Ad Hoc Group Twenty-Fourth Session (23 July – 17 August 2001)
- Ad Hoc Group Twenty-Third Session (23 April – 11 May 2001)
- Ad Hoc Group Twenty-Second Session (12 – 23 February 2001)
- Ad Hoc Group Twenty-First Session (20 November – 8 December 2000)
- Ad Hoc Group Twentieth Session (10 July – 4 August 2000)
- Ad Hoc Group Nineteenth Session (13 – 31 March 2000)
- Ad Hoc Group Eighteenth Session (17 January – 4 February 2000)
- Ad Hoc Group Seventeenth Session (22 November – 10 December 1999)
- Ad Hoc Group Sixteenth Session (13 September – 8 October 1999)
- Ad Hoc Group Fifteenth Session (28 June – 23 July 1999)
- Ad Hoc Group Fourteenth Session (29 March – 9 April 1999)
- Ad Hoc Group Thirteenth Session (4 – 22 January 1999)
- Ad Hoc Group Twelfth Session (14 September – 9 October 1998)
- Ad Hoc Group Eleventh Session (22 June – 10 July 1998)
- Ad Hoc Group Tenth Session (9 – 13 March 1998)
- Ad Hoc Group Ninth Session (5 – 23 January 1998)
- Ad Hoc Group Eighth Session (15 September – 3 October 1997)
- Formal Consultative Process (25 – 27 August 1997)
- Ad Hoc Group Seventh Session (14 July – 1 August 1997)
- Ad Hoc Group Sixth Session (3 – 21 March 1997)
- Fourth Review Conference (25 November – 6 December 1996)
- Ad Hoc Group Fifth Session (16 – 27 September 1996)
- Ad Hoc Group Fourth Session (15 – 26 July 1996)
- Fourth Review Conference Preparatory Committee (9 – 12 April 1996)
- Ad Hoc Group Third Session (27 November – 8 December 1995)
- Ad Hoc Group Second Session (10 – 21 July 1995)
- Ad Hoc Group First Session (4 - 6 January 1995)
- Special Conference (19 – 30 September 1994)
- Special Conference Preparatory Committee (11 – 15 April 1994)
- VEREX 4 (13 – 24 September 1993)
- VEREX 3 (24 May – 4 June 1993)
- VEREX 2 (23 November – 4 November 1992)
- VEREX 1 (30 March – 10 April 1992)
- Third Review Conference (9 - 27 September 1991)
- Third Review Conference Preparatory Committee (8 – 12 April 1991)
- Ad Hoc Group Meeting of Scientific and Technical Experts from States Parties to Finalise the Modalities for the Exchange of Information and Data (31 March – 15 April 1987)
- Second Review Conference (8 – 26 September 1986)
- Second Review Conference Preparatory Committee (28 April – 2 May 1986)
- First Review Conference (3 – 21 March 1980)
- First Review Conference Preparatory Committee (9 - 18 July 1979)