The 9th Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention, chaired by Ambassador Leonardo Bencini, Permanent Representative of Italy to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, ended yesterday. The 184 States-Parties adopted by consensus a Final Document that breaks the stalemate in which the Convention has found itself for over twenty years, with the approval of an articulate calendar of meetings for the next five years on every aspect relating to its strengthening. In a particularly difficult international context and at the end of a year that in August had seen a negative outcome of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference, the agreement reached yesterday in Geneva is a success for Italian diplomacy and conveys a strong signal of confidence in the multilateral system, of which Italy – thanks to this result – is confirmed to be one of the main supporters. In the words of Secretary General Guterres, who in a statement expressed sincere appreciation for Ambassador Bencini’s efforts and leadership, the adoption of this Document offers a glimmer of hope in an otherwise gloomy international security context.
