CONFERENCE ON BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS REVIEWS PROGRESS MADE IN ITS DISCUSSIONS

The Sixth Review Conference 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 this afternoon reviewed progress achieved so far in its discussions.

Masood Khan, the President of the Review Conference, observed that all were aware of the progress made so far. The Committee of the Whole had made a first reading of their report, and had designated an informal group to look into Article 10 of the Convention.

Doru Costea, the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole, in an oral update, thanked the delegations and expressed his gratitude for their readiness to engage in a multilateral and plurilateral dialogue across the board. He confirmed that the first reading of the report had been completed, and the informal group on Article 10 had already begun its work. He was positive that they would shortly have a first revised document containing the proposals and remarks made by delegations, while delegations continued to discuss other articles. That document would be presented at the next meeting of the Committee of the Whole tomorrow morning.

Hamid Baeidi Nejad of Iran thanked the President of the Committee of the Whole for the new text, which Iran hoped was close to compromises, and that positions already expressed by delegations would be largely reflected therein. Otherwise, he feared they would be obliged to repeat themselves. Time was short, and the time available should be used to work towards compromises.

The next public plenary meeting of the Conference will be on Thursday, 30 November at 10 a.m., when it is scheduled to adopt the report of the Committee of the Whole.


For use of the information media; not an official record


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