|
Geneva, 20 November 2006 1. l have the honour to take the floor to speak on behalf of the Group of Non-Aligned Movement and Other States Parties to the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC). 2. At the outset, on behalf of the Group allow me to congratulate you for your election as Chairman of this Conference by acclamation. Indeed we are proud to see that a representative of this Group has been given this honour and privilege to preside over this Conference. The Group is confident that with your knowledge, skills and experience you will be able to steer our work effectively towards achieving the objectives of this Sixth Review Conference. The Group stands ready to work and engage constructively with you and other States Parties in meeting our common goal. Mr. Chairman. 3. Referring to the BWC during the XIV Summit of the NAM, which took place last September, in Havana, Cuba, the Heads of State or Government of the States Parties to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BWC) reaffirmed, and, I quote: “that the possibility of any use of bacteriological (biological) agents and toxins as weapons should be completely excluded, and the conviction that such use would be repugnant to the conscience of humankind. They recognised the particular importance of strengthening the Convention through multilateral negotiations for a legally binding Protocol and universal adherence to the Convention. They reiterated their call to promote international cooperation for peaceful purposes, including scientific-technical exchange.” End of quote. 4. They also, inter alia, expressed their commitment to work towards a successful outcome of the Sixth Review Conference. 5. These elements expressed by our leaders are of utmost importance for our Group and represent subjects of primary concern for our countries in BWC. We come to this meeting ready to discuses any issue related to the implementation of the Convention as well as its current and future development. 6. The Group would like to reiterate its deep concern about the potential use and/or threats of use of biological agents and toxins as an instrument of war and terror. In this regard, the Group feels that there is a greater necessity and urgency for the States Parties of the BWC to work towards strengthening and improving the effectiveness and implementation of this Convention so that together we can fully address this concern. 7. The Group stresses the particular importance of all States Parties pursuing the objectives that were set forth by the Fourth Review Conference in 1996, as we strongly believe that the only sustainable method of strengthening the Convention is through multilateral negotiations aimed at concluding a non-discriminatory, legally binding agreement, dealing with all the Articles of the Convention in a balanced and comprehensive manner. 8. The BWC, as the first disarmament multilateral treaty banning a whole category of weapons of mass destruction, constitutes an impressive expression of international cooperation and multilateral negotiations in response to the challenges facing humankind. We believe that the effective contribution of the Convention to international and regional peace and security would be enhanced through universal adherence to the Convention. 9. We strongly believe that the universal adherence to and further strengthening of the Convention will make a significant contribution to advancing further in the field of arms regulation, non-proliferation and disarmament on the basis of universal, multilateral, non-discriminatory and transparent negotiations with the goal of reaching general and complete disarmament under strict international control. Mr. Chairman 10. I shall now convey some of the Group’s expectations from the Sixth Review Conference, some of which we had underlined during the meeting of Preparatory Committee in April. 11. The mandate that we should fulfil during the Review Conference is given by the Article XII of the Convention and the decisions of the previous review conferences. 12. The Group is of the view that the general thrust of the Review Conference should be directed to the review of the operation and implementation of all the Articles of the Convention and its preamble, including consideration of the work of the 3 intersessional Meetings of Experts and States Parties in 2003, 2004 and 2005 of the ad hoc mechanism. 13. The Review Conference will also have the task to consider future measures to further strengthen the effectiveness and improve the implementation of the Convention. 14. Although the ad hoc mechanism adopted at the Fifth Review Conference was useful for exchanging information and experiences on certain aspects, it was limited in its scope for examining the full implementation of the Convention’s obligations. Therefore, and in light of the challenges and risks posed by rapid developments in the field of biological science, it will be pertinent for this Review Conference to consider and decide on future measures that could further strengthen the effectiveness and improve the implementation of the Convention in its entirety. 15. The Group reiterates that the BWC forms a composite whole and that while it is possible to address related issues separately, it is necessary for all the interlinked elements of the Convention to be dealt with in a balanced and comprehensive manner, whether they relate to regulation, compliance or promotion. 16. Any new follow-up mechanism for the Sixth Review Conference should be comprehensive enough to allow an evaluation of the Convention in its entirety. It should take advantage from all the experiences accumulated so far by the States Parties in the framework of the Convention. 17. One of the Group’s priorities for this Review Conference is the evaluation of the implementation of the Article X of the Convention. We reiterate our conviction that facilitation of and participation in the fullest possible exchanges and enhanced international cooperation in the field of peaceful biotechnological activities, aimed at facilitating economic and social development, is a vital element in strengthening implementation. In this regard, the States Parties to the BWC have a legal obligation to refrain from imposing restrictions or limitations for transfers that would hamper economic or technological development of States Parties or international cooperation for peaceful applications in the field of biotechnology. The Group of Non-aligned countries will seek a reaffirmation by this Conference of its commitment to the full and comprehensive implementation of Article X, including through the ways and means already identified by the previous review conferences. Mr. Chairman 18. Let me conclude by reaffirming to you our full cooperation for the success of this meeting. l thank you, Mr. Chairman.
|