The following joint statement by the Foreign Ministers of Hungary, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States was delivered by Ambassador György Molnár (Hungary) at a plenary session of the United Nations First Committee at UN Headquarters in New York on 17 October 2016. States Parties to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention will hold their Eighth Review Conference in Geneva on 17-25 November 2016, chaired by Ambassador György Molnár.

The Foreign Ministers of Hungary, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States underline the fundamental importance of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention as a key pillar of international security and of the pressing need to enhance its effectiveness.

The Foreign Ministers look forward to the Eighth Review Conference of the Convention in November this year agreeing on substantive measures that will significantly strengthen the Convention and contribute to reducing the threat of biological agents being used as weapons.

We are committed to working hard and constructively to this end, and we call upon all States Parties to approach the Conference in a similar spirit and be prepared to make the necessary decisions to ensure that the Convention serves its objectives in an effective and sustainable manner.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade)