Press Release on the ratification of the BWC by Nepal

Press Release

 

On 4 November 2016, Nepal has become the 177th State Party of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction after formally depositing the Instrument of Ratification by Nepal in Washington D.C. The Governments of the United Kingdom, United States of America and the Russian Federation are the depositories of the Convention.

Nepal had signed the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) on 10 April 1972.

It may be noted that Hon’ble Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat had formally tabled the proposal for ratification of the Biological Weapons Convention to the Legislature Parliament of Nepal on 18 October 2016. Earlier, the Council of Ministers had decided on 1 January 2016 to proceed with ratification of the BWC in accordance with national laws.

Subsequently, the Legislature Parliament had considered the proposal and ratified the Convention on 23 October 2016.

A Nepali delegation led by His Excellency Mr. Deepak Dhital, Ambassador/Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations Office at Geneva is participating, for the first time as the State Party, in the Eighth Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) taking place at Geneva from 7 to 25 November 2016.

The Ratification of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) represents the expression of Nepal’s strong belief in general and complete disarmament of all weapons of mass destruction including biological, chemical, nuclear and radiological weapons in a time-bound manner.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Kathmandu
10 November 2016

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