Third Review Conference focuses on verification, confidence-building.

• Position: United Nations conference on biological and toxin weapons

The Conference adopted by consensus a Final Declaration, in which participants stated that the use of biological weapons is "repugnant to the conscience of mankind". The 15-article Convention--considered the first international agreement to provide for genuine disarmament--is "essential to international peace and security", delegates agreed.

The Declaration states that elimination of both chemical and biological weapons would facilitate the achievement of general and complete disarmament. All States should deal seriously with compliance issues, because "failure to do so would undermine the Convention and the disarmament process in general". Full implementation of the Convention, however, should not hamper economic and technological development and international cooperation in peaceful biological activities.

Participating in the Conference were 78 States Parties, six States which had signed the Treaty but had not yet ratified it, two UN specialized agencies (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the World Health Organization, which participated as observers), one regional intergovernmental organization (League of Arab States) and 11 non-governmental organizations and research institutes. Three States neither Parties to nor signatories of the Convention were also granted observer status.

The Convention was commenced by the General Assembly on 16 December 1971 in resolution 2826 (XXVI). It was opened for signature in April 1972 and, in accordance with Article XIV, entered into force in 1975 when 22 States ratified it. Two previous review conferences were held in Geneva--in 1980 and 1986.

In a closing statement, Conference President Roberto Garcia Moritan of Argentina noted a "welcome sense of compromise in the negotiations". Boldness had indeed been shown, although the "aspirations of some might not have been met", he said.

Final Declaration

In its Declaration, the Conference stressed that in the case of alleged use of chemical and bacteriological (biological) or toxin weapons, the UN was called upon to take appropriate measures in accordance with its Charter, including timely and efficient investigations.

The Conference welcomed regional initiatives that would lead to wider accession to the Convention, as well as those dealing withu the renunciation of weapons of mass destruction, including biological weapons.

Scientific communities were asked to continue support only for activities that had justification...