The Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) Database
Working Paper submitted by Austria
C. Voluntary Visits: Suggestions for limitations (WP.274)
The full text of this Working Paper is provided below; this is from the 10th
Session of the Ad Hoc Group of States Parties. Please note: the page
numbers given are those which appear in the original 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/WP.274
10 March 1998
Original: ENGLISH
Tenth session
Geneva, 9-13 March 1998
Working paper submitted by Austria
C. Voluntary Visits: Suggestions for limitations
Voluntary visits raise a number of questions with regard to their scope as
well as their conduct. While it is widely supported that procedures should
be kept simple, this might pose some concern to the organization when
implementating such visits. The following three principles (three "Nos")
are trying to address this issue:
-
NO OBLIGATION BY THE ORGANIZATION TO CONDUCT ANY SPECIFIC VOLUNTARY VISIT,
BUT PROCEDURES SHOULD BE ADOPTED FOR THE SECRETARIAT TO BE FOLLOWED WHEN
DECIDING UPON SPECIFIC OFFERS/REQUESTS BY A STATE PARTY.
-
NO CONDUCT OF A VOLUNTARY VISIT IF THE ORGANIZATION IS NOT SATISFIED WITH
THE PARAMETERS OFFERED BY A STATE PARTY FOR THE SPECIFIC VISIT.
-
NO UTILIZATION OF VOLUNTARY VISITS IN ADRESSING COMPLIANCE CONCERNS IF ANOTHER
INSTRUMENT FOR CLARIFYING THE SITUATION WOULD SEEM MORE APPROPRIATE TO THE
ORGANIZATION. IN THE EVENT THAT A CLARIFICATION VISIT OR INVESTIGATION IS
INITIATED, ANY PLANS OR ON-GOING ACTIVITY BY THE TECHNICAL SECRETARIAT WITH
RESPECT TO ANY VISIT OF A VOLUNTARY NATURE IN THE STATE PARTY THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF THE REQUEST SHALL BE IMMEDIATELY TERMINATED.
Furthermore, procedures for possible co-financing by a State Party of a specific
voluntary visit offered/requested for should be further elaborated for cases
when the activities concerned are in the overwhelming interest of that State
Party and would otherwise represent a national implementation measure under
the Protocol.
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GE.98-60713
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