Article 12 of the Convention states that a Review Conference shall be convened five years after the entry into force of the Convention. Because the Convention entered into force in 1999, the First Review Conference will be held in 2004. To establish a process to prepare for this important event, the Fourth Meeting of the States Parties provided a mandate to that meeting's President, Ambassador Jean Lint of Belgium, to facilitate consultations leading to consideration by the Fifth Meeting of the States Parties on a variety of pertinent matters. |