News

USIS Washington File

27 March 2000

Text: Joint Statement on Biological Weapons Convention 25th Anniversary

(U.S., Russia, Britain reaffirm importance of convention)  (590)

The three depositary states to the Bacteriological (Biological) and
Toxin Weapons Convention (BWC) -- the United States, Russia, and the
United Kingdom -- issued a joint statement March 27 marking the 25th
anniversary of the convention's entry into force.

The BWC serves to prevent countries from developing, producing,
stockpiling or obtaining the means to employ bacteriological,
biological, or toxin weapons as a means of warfare, and the joint
statement reaffirmed the depositary's belief in its continuing
relevance and importance.

They noted that 143 states have now acceded to the BWC, and they
called on others to do so without delay, "so the prohibitions on
possession and development of biological weapons become even more
universal."

Following is the text of the joint statement, as issued in Washington
by the Department of State:

(begin text)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE 
Office of the Spokesman
March 27, 2000

Statement by James B. Foley, Deputy Spokesman

TEXT OF JOINT STATEMENT BY THE DEPOSITARY STATES ON THE 25TH
ANNIVERSARY OF ENTRY INTO FORCE OF THE BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION

On the twenty-fifth anniversary of the entry into force of the
Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons Convention (BWC), the
three Depositary States, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America,
reaffirm their belief in the continuing relevance and importance of
the Convention. As we start a new century, the principles and
objectives of the Convention are an important international norm
serving to prevent any country from developing, producing, stockpiling
or obtaining the means to employ bacteriological, biological or toxin
weapons as a means of warfare. As such, the Convention remains one of
the key elements of international security and stability.

At its inception, the Convention was a watershed international
document, the first formal multilateral agreement to foreswear an
entire class of weapons of mass destruction. Twenty-five years later,
143 States have acceded to it, a remarkable endorsement of the
principles which it encompasses, and of the very important role it
plays in the web of non-proliferation and arms control treaties. We,
as the Depositaries, take this opportunity to call on those states
which have not yet ratified or acceded to the BWC to do so without
delay, so that the prohibitions on possession and development of
biological weapons become even more universal.

The representatives of many States Parties are now engaged in work to
strengthen the Convention. The aim is a Protocol that will create a
regime to enhance confidence in compliance with the fundamental
objectives of the Convention. This effort will bring the Convention
into better alignment with the principles of other arms control
agreements. As the terms of the mandate given to the Ad Hoc Group make
clear, the objective is "to consider appropriate measures, including
possible verification measures ... to be included, as appropriate, in
a legally binding instrument." Successful achievement of an effective
Protocol within the agreed timeframe must be the target of all States
Parties. We pledge our own efforts to achieving this goal, and call
upon other States Parties to do likewise, and to accede to the
Protocol once it is agreed.

BWC Depositary Statement for Release on Monday, March 27, 2000 in
Washington (8am), London (2pm), Geneva (3pm to BWC Ad Hoc Group),
Moscow (5pm)

(end text)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: usinfo.state.gov)