PREAMBLE1

[The States Parties to this Protocol,

Being Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction, which was opened for signature on 10 April 1972, and entered into force on 26 March 1975, hereinafter referred to as the Biological Weapons Convention,

Being Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction, signed at London, Moscow and Washington on 10 April 1972 (Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention of 1972),

Determined for the sake of all mankind to exclude completely the possibility of bacteriological (biological) agents and toxins being used as weapons,

Mindful of their obligations under that Convention never in any circumstances to develop, produce, stockpile or otherwise acquire or retain microbial or other biological agents or toxins whatever their origin or method of production, of types and in quantities that have no justification for prophylactic, protective or other peaceful purposes or weapons, equipment or means of delivery designed to use such agents or toxins for hostile purposes or in armed conflict,

Mindful of their obligations under the Biological Weapons Convention, and desiring to further the objectives of the Biological Weapons Convention,

Noting the reaffirmation by the States Parties to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention of 1972 at the Fourth Review Conference that the use by States Parties, in any way and under any circumstances, of microbial or other biological agents or toxins, that is not consistent with prophylactic, protective or other peaceful purposes, is effectively a violation of Article I of the Convention,

Reaffirming that the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention of 1972 is essential to international peace and security,

Reiterating their firm commitment to the Preamble and the provisions of that Convention, and their belief that universal adherence to that Convention would enhance international peace and security,

Convinced that the current international situation provides an opportunity to enhance the implementation and effectiveness of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention of 1972 and to further strengthen its authority,prohibition of all types of weapons of mass destruction,

Desiring to contribute to the realization and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations,

Reaffirming their adherence to the principles and objectives of the Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare, signed at Geneva on 17 June 1925 (Geneva Protocol of 1925) and calling upon all States to strictly comply with them,

Conscious of the contribution the Geneva Protocol of 1925 and the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention of 1972 have already made to mitigating the horrors of war,

Recognizing the important significance of the Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare, signed at Geneva on 17 June 1925, the Biological Weapons Convention, and the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their destruction, which was opened for signature on 13 January 1993, and entered into force on 29 April 1997,

Welcoming the entry into force on 29 April 1997 of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction, signed in Paris on 13-15 January 1993, and the measures it provides to verify compliance with its provisions,

Recognizing the significant advances in the field of biotechnology since the entry into force of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention of 1972, and that achievement in this field should be used exclusively for the benefit of all peoples,

Recognizing the significant advances in the field of biotechnology since the entry into force of the Biological Weapons Convention and that achievement in this field should be used exclusively for the benefit of mankind, and conscious of the apprehensions arising from relevant scientific and technological developments as expressed by States Parties at the Review Conferences held in 1986, 1991 and 1996 of their use for purposes inconsistent with the objectives and the provisions of the Convention,

Determined for the sake of all peoples to exclude completely the possibility of the development, production, stockpiling, acquisition, retention or use of biological weapons through the implementation of this Protocol, furthering the principles and objectives of the Geneva Protocol of 1925 and the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention of 1972,

Determined to strengthen the effectiveness and improve the implementation of the Convention,

Reaffirming the commitment made by each State Party to the Biological Weapons Convention at the Third Review Conference to implement, on the basis of mutual cooperation, the Confidence-Building Measures set forth in the Final Declaration of that Conference, including its Annex, irrespective of whether it becomes a party to this Protocol,

Desiring to promote international cooperation and exchange of scientific and technical information in the field of biotechnology in accordance with Article X of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention of 1972, to enhance the economic and technological development of all States Parties,

Desiring to promote international cooperation and exchange of scientific and technical information in the field of biotechnology for purposes not prohibited under the Biological Weapons Convention to enhance the economic and technological development of all States Parties,

Emphasizing the increasing importance of the provisions of Article X, especially in the light of recent scientific and technological developments in the field of biotechnology, bacteriological (biological) agents and toxins with peaceful applications, which have vastly increased the potential for cooperation between States to help to promote economic and social development, and scientific and technological progress, particularly in the developing countries, in conformity with their interests, needs and priorities,

Concerned with the increasing gap between the developed and the developing countries in the field of biotechnology, genetic engineering, microbiology and other related areas,

Recalling that, in accordance with the Declaration of Principles adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, States should cooperate to strengthen endogenous capacity-building for sustainable development by improving scientific understanding through exchanges of scientific and technical knowledge, and by enhancing the development, adaptation, diffusion and transfer of technologies, including new and innovative technologies,

Determined to promote international cooperation on all developments in the field of frontier science and high technology in areas relevant to the BTWC, and urging the developed countries possessing advanced biotechnology and knowledge in such fields as medicine, public health and agriculture to adopt positive measures and to continue to promote technology transfer and cooperation on an equal and non-discriminatory basis, in particular with the developing countries, for the benefit of all mankind,

Convinced that to contribute as effectively as possible to the prevention of the proliferation of biological and toxin weapons, and therefore to enhance international peace and security, all States Parties to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention of 1972 should become States Parties to this Protocol,

Convinced that the most effective way to ensure a world free of biological and toxin weapons is to strengthen the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention of 1972, in particular through the inclusion of effective verification provisions,

Convinced that the adoption of additional measures to provide increased transparency with respect to potential biological weapons related activities and facilities will enhance compliance with and help deter violations of the Biological Weapons Convention,

Have agreed as follows:]