A proposal for putting the 26 March 2005 anniversary to best use for the BWC [Biological Weapons Convention]

Regaining the diplomatic mainstream at the Sixth Review Conference requires convergence of effort on a BWC agenda for recovery, to repair some of the damage the BWC suffered in 2001-02. A first test for any emergent grouping of like-minding States Parties, together with ICRC and NGOs, could be to champion the completion by 26 March 2005 (thirtieth anniversay of entry into force) of effective action on particular BWC commitments, agreed by consensus and long outstanding. This paper identifies commitments form 1980, 1986, 1991 and 1996 and calls for a weekend conference to mark their completion: consolidation before the next advance.