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The Protocol to Strengthen the Btwc: An Integrated Regime

The Ad Hoc Group established in 1994 to draft proposals to strengthen the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention through a legally binding instrument has now met twelve times. Its negotiations successfully transitioned in July 1997 to consideration of a draft protocol, the sixth version of which has now been produced. Five meetings totalling sixteen weeks are agreed for 1999, and there is clear global political will to complete the negotiations. All the essential elements for the protocol are now in the rolling text—mandatory declarations, visits (both focused and random), and compliance concern investigations, together with measures to strengthen the implementation of Article X (cooperation for peaceful purposes) and other articles of the BTWC. This article examines how the integrated regime has a considerable synergistic effect that will, over time, build confidence in compliance with the convention; ensure that uncertainties, anomalies, and concerns are swiftly investigated; and improve the implementation of the convention.