A/RES/49/86 Page 2 from a Scientific and Technical Standpoint, 2/ agreed to by consensus at its last meeting at Geneva on 24 September 1993, Noting with satisfaction that there are more than one hundred and thirty States parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction, 3/ including all the permanent members of the Security Council, Bearing in mind its call upon all States parties to the Convention to participate in the implementation of the recommendations of the Third Review Conference, including the exchange of information and data agreed to in the Final Declaration of the Third Review Conference, 4/ and to provide such information and data in conformity with standardized procedure to the Secretary-General on an annual basis and no later than 15 April, Recalling the provisions of the Convention related to scientific and technological cooperation 5/ and the related provisions of the Final Document of the Third Review Conference, the final report of the Ad Hoc Group of Governmental Experts and the final report of the Special Conference of the States Parties to the Convention, held from 19 to 30 September 1994, 6/ 1. Notes that a majority of States parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction requested the depositary Powers to convene a special conference in order to consider the final report of the Ad Hoc Group of Governmental Experts to Identify and Examine Potential Verification Measures from a Scientific and Technical Standpoint; 2/ 2. Welcomes the final report of the Special Conference, adopted by consensus on 30 September 1994, in which the States parties agreed to establish an ad hoc group, open to all States parties, whose objective shall be to consider appropriate measures, including possible verification measures, and draft proposals to strengthen the Convention, to be included, as appropriate, in a legally binding instrument to be submitted for the consideration of the States parties; 3. Welcomes the information and data provided to date and reiterates its call upon all States parties to the Convention to participate in the exchange of information and data agreed to in the Final Declaration of the Third Review Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction; 2/ BWC/CONF.III/VEREX/9 and Corr.1. 3/ Resolution 2826 (XXVI), annex. 4/ BWC/CONF.III/23, part II. 5/ See resolution 2826 (XXVI), annex, article X. 6/ BWC/SPCONF/1. /...