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Rolling Text (9th Session) : Procedural Report

The Procedural Report of the Rolling Text is provided below. This material is from the 9th Session of the Ad Hoc Group of States Parties to the Convention.

Please note: the page numbers given are those which appear in the original text, these appear at the top of the page. The detailed footnotes are provided at the end of the main text.  

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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

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/39
2 February 1998

Original: ENGLISH

Ninth session
Geneva, 5 - 23 January 1998

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 ninth session at the Palais des Nations, Geneva from 5-23 January 1998, in accordance with the decision taken at its eighth session. The Group held 30 meetings during that period under the chairmanship of Ambassador Tibor Tóth of Hungary. Ambassador John Campbell of Australia and Ambassador Javier Illanes of Chile served as Vice-Chairmen of the Group. Mr. Ogunsola Ogunbanwo, the Senior Coordinator of the Disarmament Fellowship and Training Programme, Department of Disarmament Affairs, served as Secretary of the Group.

2. At the ninth session of the Ad Hoc Group, the following States Parties to the Convention participated in the work of the Group: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, and Viet Nam. 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 to the Biological Weapons Convention".

GE.98-60357

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/39
page 2

4. At its ninth 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:

Definitions of Terms and Objective Criteria
- Dr. Ali A. Mohammadi (Islamic Republic of Iran)

Measures to Promote Compliance
- Mr. Richard Tauwhare (United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland)

Investigations Annex
- Mr. Peter Goosen (South Africa)

Measures Related to Article X
- Mr. Carlos S. Duarte (Brazil)

Legal Issues
- Ambassador John Campbell (Australia)

Confidentiality Issues
- Ambassador Dr. Günther Seibert (Germany)

National Implementation and Assistance
- Mr. Ajit Kumar (India)

5. Out of the 30 meetings the Ad Hoc Group held in accordance with the programme of work, 8 meetings were devoted to issues related to "Measures to Promote Compliance", 4 meetings were devoted to "Measures Related to Article X", 5 meetings were devoted to "Definitions of Terms and Objective Criteria", 1 meeting was devoted to "Legal Issues", 7 meetings were devoted to "Investigations Annex", 1 meeting was devoted to "Organization/Implementational Arrangements", 2 meetings were devoted to "Confidentiality", and 1 meeting was devoted to "National Implementation and Assistance". The Friends of the Chair were assisted by Mr. Vladimir Bogomolov, Political Affairs Officer of the Department of Disarmament Affairs and Ms. Iris Hunger, Professional Assistant.

6. The results of discussions are attached to this report. (Annex I) In addition to the statement of the Chairman that the position of delegations is 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.

7. In addition to the documents presented at its previous sessions, the Ad Hoc Group had before it 33 working papers covering all elements of the mandate under discussion and which are listed in Annex III.

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/39
page 3

8. In accordance with the agreement reached at its eighth session, the Ad Hoc Group addressed, in the course of Chairman's consultations and informal meetings, the issue of the timing of the session scheduled for decision to be taken at the ninth session. After careful consideration of its earlier decision regarding the dates and duration of sessions for 1998 as reflected in paragraph 8 of BWC/AD HOC GROUP/38, the Ad Hoc Group decided to have the following sessions:

9 to 13 March 1998,

22 June to 10 July 1998, and

21 September to 16 October 1998.

9. The Ad Hoc Group considered and adopted the Programme of Work for the tenth session to be held from 9 to 13 March 1998. (Annex II)

10. At its 30th meeting on 23 January 1998, the Ad Hoc Group considered and adopted its draft procedural report (BWC/AD HOC GROUP/L.2 to L.14).

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