The Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention Database
BWC/CONF.I/10
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, having met in Geneva 3-21 March 1980 under the provisions
of Article XII to review the operation of the Convention with a view to assuring
that the purposes of the preamble and the provisions of the Con vention are
being realized:
Reaffirming their determination to act with a view to achieving effective
progress towards general and complete disarmament including the prohibition
and elimination of all types of weapons of mass destruction and convinced that
the prohibition of the development, production and stockpiling of chemical and
bacteriological (biological) weapons and their elimination, through effective
measures, will facilitate the achievement of general and complete disarmament
under strict and effective international control,
Recognizing the continuing importance of the Convention and its objectives
and the common interest of mankind in the elimination of bacteriological (biological)
and toxin weapons,
Affirming their belief that universal adherence to the Convention would
enhance international peace and security, would not hamper economic or technological
development, and further, would facilitate the wider exchange of information
for the use of bacteriological (biological agents for peaceful purposes,
Reaffirming their adherence to the principle and objectives of the Geneva
Protocol of 17 June 1925 and calling upon all States to comply strictly with
them,
Recalling that the General Assembly of the United Nations has repeatedly
condemned all actions contrary to the said principles and objectives,
Recognizing the importance of achieving international agreement on effective
measures for the prohibition of the development, production and stockpiling
of chemical weapons and for their destruction as a matter of high priority,
Noting the relevant provisions of the Final Document of the Tenth Special
Session of the General Assembly devoted to Disarmament,
Appealing to all States to refrain from any action which might place
the Convention or any of its provisions in jeopardy,
Declare as follows:
The States Parties to the Convention reaffirm their strong determination for
the sake of all mankind, to exclude completely the possibility of bacteriological
(biological) agents and toxins being used as weapons. They reaffirm their strong
support for the Convention, their continued dedication to its principles and
objectives and their commitment to implement effectively its provisions.
Article I
The Conference notes the importance of Article I as the Article which defines
the scope of the Convention and reaffirms its support for the provisions of
this Article.
The Conference believes that Article I has proved sufficiently comprehensive
to have covered recent scientific and technological developments relevant to
the Convention.
Article II
The Conference notes the importance of Article II and emphasizes that States
which become Parties to the Convention, in implementing the provisions of this
Article, shall observe all necessary safety precautions to protect populations
and the environment.
The Conference welcomes the declarations of several States Parties to the effect
either that they do not possess and have never possessed agents, toxins, weapons,
equipment or means of delivery specified in Article I of the Convention, or
that having possessed them they have destroyed them or diverted them to peaceful
purposes. The Conference believes that such voluntary declarations contribute
to increased confidence in the Convention and believes that States not having
made such voluntary declarations should do so.
Article III
The Conference notes the importance of the provisions of Article III which proscribes
the transfer of agents, toxins, weapons, equipment or means of delivery specified
in Article I of the Convention to any recipient whatsoever and the furnishing
of assistance, encouragement or inducement to any State, group of States or
international organizations to manufacture or otherwise acquire them.
Article IV
The Conference notes the provisions of Article IV, which requires each State
Party to take any necessary measure to prohibit and prevent the development,
production, stockpiling, acquisition or retention of the agents, toxins, weapons,
equipment and means of delivery specified in Article I of the Convention, within
its territory, under its jurisdiction or under its control anywhere, and calls
upon all States Parties which have not yet taken any necessary measures in accordance
with their constitutional processes to do so immediately.
The Conference invites States Parties which have found it necessary to enact
specific legislation or take other regulatory measures relevant to this Article
to make available the appropriate texts to the United Nations Centre for Disarmament,
for the purposes of consultation.
Article V
The Conference notes the importance of Article V which contains the undertaking
of States Parties to consult one another and to co-operate in solving any problems
which may arise in relation to the objective of, or in the application of the
provisions of, the Convention.
The Conference considers that the flexibility of the provisions concerning consultations
and co-operation on any problems which may arise in relation to the objective,
or in the application of the provisions of, the Convention, enables interested
States Parties to use various international procedures which would make it possible
to ensure effectively and adequately the implementation of the Convention provisions
taking into account the concern expressed by the Conference participants to
this effect.
These procedures include, inter alia, the right of any State Party subsequently
to request that a consultative meeting open to all States Parties be convened
at expert level.
The Conference, noting the concerns and differing views expressed on the adequacy
of Article V, believes that this question should be further considered at an
appropriate time.
Article VI
The Conference also notes the importance of Article VI, which in addition to
the procedures contained in Article V, provides for any State Party, which finds
that any other State Party is acting in breach of its obligations under the
Convention, to lodge a complaint with the United Nations Security Council, and
under which each State Party undertakes to co-operate in carrying out any investigation
which the Security Council may initiate.
The Conference further notes that no State Party has invoked these provisions.
Article VII
The Conference notes with satisfaction that it has not proved necessary to invoke
the provisions of Article VII.
Article VIII
The Conference reaffirms that nothing contained in the Convention shall be interpreted
as in any way limiting or detracting from the obligations assumed by any State
under 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 Conference calls on those States Par ties to the Convention
which are parties to the Protocol to comply strictly with its provisions and
those States not yet Parties to the said Protocol to ratify or accede to it
at the earliest possible date.
Article IX
The Conference notes the importance of the provisions of Article IX and of the preambular paragraphs concerning the commitment of States Parties to continue negotiations in good faith with a view to reaching early agreement on effective measures for the prohibition of the development, production and stockpiling of chemical weapons and for their destruction. The Conference deeply regrets that such agreement has not yet become a reality despite the fact that eight years have already elapsed since the Convention was opened for signature.
The Conference urges the Committee on Disarmament to
undertake negotiations on an agreement on the complete and effective prohibition
of the development, production and stockpiling of all chemical weapons and on
their destruction, as a matter of high priority, taking into account all existing
proposals and future initiatives. To this end, the Conference welcomes the esta
blishment, by the Committee on Disarmament, of an ad hoc working group
on chemical weapons and urges all the members of the Committee to contribute
towards the fulfilment of its mandate.
The Conference takes note of the bilateral USA-USSR report (SD/48) presented
to the Committee on Disarmament on the progress of their negotiations undertaken
with a view to presenting a joint initiative to that Committee and notes their
stated intention to continue intensive negotiations to this end.
The Conference reaffirms the obligation assumed by States Parties to the Convention
to continue negotiations in good faith towards the recognized objectives of
an early agreement on complete, effective and adequately verifiable measures
for the prohibition of the development, production and stockpiling of chemical
weapons and for their destruction.
Article X
The Conference notes that since the entry into force of the Convention, increasing
importance has been attached by the International community to the principle
that the disarmament process should help promote economic and social development,
particularly in the developing countries. Accordingly, the Conference calls
upon States Parties, especially developed countries, to increase, individually,
or together with other States or international organizations, their scientific
and technological co-operation, particularly with developing countries, in the
peaceful uses of bacteriological (biological) agents and toxins. Such co-operation
should include, inter alia, the transfer and exchange of information,
training of personnel and transfer of materials and equipment on a more systematic
and long-term basis.
Furthermore, the Conference notes with satisfaction that the implementation
of the Convention has not hampered the economic or technological development
of States Parties.
The Conference requests the United Nations Secretariat to include in the background
materials prepared for the second Review Conference of the Parties to the Convention
on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological
(Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction, information on the
implementation of Article X by States Parties.
Article XI
The Conference notes the importance of the provisions of Article XI and that
during the first five years of the operation of the Convention these provisions
have not been invoked.
Article XII
The Conference welcomes the spirit of co-operation in which this Review Conference
was conducted, and believes that such conferences constitute an effective method
of reviewing the operation of the Convention with a view of ensuring that its
purposes and provisions are being realized, in particular with respect to any
new scientific and technological developments relevant to the Convention.
The Conference decides that a second Review Conference shall be held in Geneva
at the request of a majority of States Parties not earlier than 1985 and, in
any case, not later than 1990.
Any information provided by States Parties on scientific and technological developments
relevant to the Convention, and on its implementation, shall be made available
periodically to States Parties, in particular through the United Nations Centre
for Disarmament.
Article XIII
The Conference notes the provisions of Article XIII and expresses its satisfaction
that no State Party to the Convention has exercised its right to withdraw from
the Convention.
Article XIV
The Conference notes with satisfaction that 81 States have ratified the Convention,
6 States have acceded to the Convention and a further 37 States have signed
but have yet to ratify the Convention. The Conference calls upon all signatory
States which have not ratified the Convention to do so without delay and upon
those States which have not signed the Convention to join the States Parties
thereto in the efforts to eliminate the risk of biological warfare.
Article XV
The Conference notes the provisions of Article XV.