On April 26 – 28, 2016 the Meeting of the Preparatory Committee for the Eighth Review Conference of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction (BWC) takes place in Geneva.

Participants are discussing technical and logistical matters related to the carrying out the abovementioned conference (will be held in November 2016), including issues of methods of decision-making and rules of procedure, as well as being engaged in the general exchange of views on initiatives and suggestions in the context of finding ways to ensure universalization of the Convention and strengthen its provisions.

Permanent Representative of Ukraine in Geneva Yurii Klymenko in his statement during the Meeting, inter alia, stressed on the importance of conducting an analysis during the Eighth Review Conference of the work done within the Convention during the 2012 – 2015 Intersessional Process, underlined the significance of promoting concrete actions to strengthen the Convention over the next 5 years, drew attention to the necessity of ensuring the widest possible participation in the meetings of States Parties and experts of all stakeholders, including NGOs, industry and academia, as well as spoke in favor of finding opportunities to strengthen the Implementation Support Unit of the BWC.