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Biological Weapons Convention News

2001

• Ad Hoc Group of States Parties To Biological Weapons Convention Opens Twenty-Second Session , UN Press Release, 13 February 2001 -- The Ad Hoc Group of the States parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction (BCW) opened its twenty-second session on 12 February at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. Under the chairmanship of Tibor Toth of Hungary, the Group will meet until 23 February 2001.

  2000

• SYMPOSIUM MARKS TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION Press Release DC/2690 - 31 March 2000 -- Tibor T�th of Hungary, Chairman of the Ad Hoc Group of the States Parties to the Biological Weapons Convention, currently negotiating a verification protocol to the Convention in Geneva, noted that no inspection had even been carried out in the 25 year existence of the Convention.
• Text: Joint Statement on Biological Weapons Convention 25th Anniversary 27 March 2000 -- The three depositary states to the Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons Convention (BWC) -- the United States, Russia, and the United Kingdom -- issued a joint statement March 27 marking the 25th anniversary of the convention's entry into force.
• SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION HAS MADE IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION TO EFFORTS TO ELIMINATE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION Press Release SG/SM/7341 DC/2689 -- 26 March 2000
• AD HOC GROUP OF STATES PARTIES TO BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION TO HOLD NINETEENTH SESSION 13-31 MARCH Press Release DC/2688 - 13 March 2000 -- During the nineteenth session, the Ad Hoc Group will continue to negotiate on all aspects of the draft protocol.

  1999

• DRAFT TEXT ON BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION INTRODUCED IN DISARMAMENT COMMITTEE 22 October 1999 Press Release GA/DIS/3151 -- According to a draft resolution introduced this morning in the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security), the General Assembly would call upon all States parties to the Biological Weapons Convention to accelerate negotiations for a protocol, including possible verification measures, to strengthen the Convention.

  1998

• AD HOC GROUP CHARGED WITH ELABORATING REGIME TO VERIFY BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION CONCLUDES TWELFTH SESSION 12 October 1998 Press Release DC/2614 -- During the four-week session, the Ad Hoc Group engaged in intensive negotiations on a draft rolling text of a compliance and verification protocol to the Convention.
• BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS Voice of America 09 October 1998 -- (L-ONLY) NEGOTIATORS SAY IT WILL TAKE LONGER THAN THEY HAD HOPED TO STRENGTHEN THE EXISTING BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS TREATY. THE NEGOTIATORS WHO HAVE JUST COMPLETED ONE MONTH OF TALKS SAY THEY STILL DISAGREE ON WAYS TO MAKE SURE COUNTRIES ARE NOT SECRETLY DEVELOPING WEAPONS FOR GERM WARFARE.
• TEXT: HOLUM CALLS FOR COMPLETION OF BWC PROTOCOL IN 1999 USIA 06 October 1998 -- (October 6 Address to the Ad Hoc Group in Geneva) -- The United States would like to see the text of a protocol strengthening the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) completed by the end of next year.
• STATES PARTIES TO BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION END LATEST SESSION 15 July 1998 Press Release DCF/342
• BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS Voice of America 10 July 1998 -- NEGOTIATORS SAY THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONCLUDE TALKS THIS YEAR AIMED AT STRENGTHENING A BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS TREATY.
• TEXT: U.S.-CHINA JOINT STATEMENT ON BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS 27 June 1998 -- President Clinton and President Jiang released a Joint Statement reaffirming their strong support for the complete global elimination of biological weapons.
• CLINTON LEADS DISCUSSION OF GENETICS & BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS 10 April 1998 -- President Clinton led a roundtable discussion April 10 with some of his senior foreign policy advisors and some of the government's leading experts on genetic engineering and biological weapons. He was joined by a small group of outside experts, including Barbara Rosenberg, Director of Chemical and Biological Projects, Federation of American Scientists.
• [EXCERPTS] TRANSCRIPT: WHITE HOUSE DAILY BRIEFING , APRIL 10, 1998 - genetic engineering / biological weapons.
• BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS VOA 3/9/98 WORK AIMED AT STRENGTHENING COMPLIANCE WITH A CONVENTION WHICH PROHIBITS THE DEVELOPMENT, PRODUCTION AND STOCKPILING OF BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS IS GATHERING MOMENTUM.
• Briefing Paper No 7: Article X : Further Building Blocks Bradford - SIPRI CBW Project March 1998.
• Briefing Paper No 6 : Article X : Some Building Blocks Bradford - SIPRI CBW Project March 1998.
• FACT SHEET: THE BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION USIA 20 February 1998
• Briefing Paper No 5 : An Optimum Organization Bradford - SIPRI CBW Project January 1998.
• Briefing Paper No 4 : National Implementation Measures Bradford - SIPRI CBW Project January 1998.

  1997

• Briefing Paper No 3 : Discriminating Triggers for Mandatory Declarations Bradford - SIPRI CBW Project September 1997.
• Briefing Paper No 2 :The Necessity for Non-Challenge Visits Bradford - SIPRI CBW Project September 1997.
• A ROLLING TEXT FOR THE Biological Toxin Weapon Convention (BTWC) VERIFICATION PROTOCOL by Graham S Pearson Applied Science and Analysis, Inc. NEWSLETTER August 23, 1997
• Briefing Paper No 1 : The Importance of On-Site Investigations Bradford - SIPRI CBW Project July 1997.

  1996

• CONFERENCE ON BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION REVIEWS REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE 2 December 1996 Press Release DC/2571 - Document Notes Support for Intensification of Work on a Verification System.
• AUSTRALIAN STATEMENT TO THE 4TH REVIEW CONFERENCE OF THE BWC 26 NOVEMBER 1996
• BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION REVIEW CONFERENCE 1996 ACDA Factsheet - November 20, 1996
• BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION ACDA Factsheet - November 12, 1996
• Key Points for the Fourth Review Conference Bradford - SIPRI CBW Project - Articles I (One) to XV (Fifteen) and Agenda Items 10C, 11, and 12. - 1996.

  1995

• ARMS PROBLEMS WITH RUSSIA UNDERLINE NEED FOR BINDING ACCORDS 07/19/95 (Questions about Russian BW production, Holum says)
• CONVENTION ON THE PROHIBITION OF THE DEVELOPMENT, PRODUCTION AND STOCKPILING OF BACTERIOLOGICAL (BIOLOGICAL) AND TOXIN WEAPONS AND ON THEIR DESTRUCTION - ACDA Factsheet
• Clinton Issues New Chemical/Biological Weapons Order US Information Agency 17 February 1995 - White House press release regarding President Clinton's new executive order on the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons.

  1994

• BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION: THE SPECIAL CONFERENCE AND BEYOND ACDA Factsheet - August 9, 1994

  1993

• THE BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION: REPORT OF THE AD HOC GROUP OF GOVERNMENTAL EXPERTS ACDA Factsheet - November 23, 1993
• US Seeks to Strengthen Biological Weapons Convention US Information Agency 23 September 1993 - Speaking in an interview in Geneva, US ambassador and ACDA official Edward Lacey said that the US believes more can be done to strengthen the Biological Weapons Convention and considers it an important goal to develop international measures to bolster the treaty's effectiveness.
• Biological Weapons Export Controls List Agreed US Information Agency 11 June 1993 - A group of 25 countries has consolidated its lists of biological weapons export controls on organisms and the toxins they produce and on equipment.
• Experts Study Possible BWC Verification Regime US Information Agency 03 June 1993 - US delegate to a conference of government experts reviewing the 1972 Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BWC) ambassador Edward Lacey said that the US is reviewing its policy on BWC verification within the context of a larger review of US non-proliferation efforts.

  1992

• Agreement Reached on Biological Weapon Export Controls US Information Agency 16 December 1992 - Twenty-two countries, known as the Australia Group, have agreed to control exports of organisms and the toxins they produce plus equipment that could be used in production of biological weapons.
• Nations Examine BWC Verification Compliance Measures US Information Agency 03 December 1992 - According to Ambassador Edward Lacey, acting Assistant ACDA Director, the US and other parties to the 1972 Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BWC) have conducted a thorough examination of verification measures that might be used in the future to enhance compliance with the convention.
• Russia Commits to End Biological Weapons Program US Information Agency 14 September 1992 - The Russian government has agreed to a series of specific steps designed to bring it into compliance with the 1972 Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention.
• US, UK, Russia to Extend Cooperation in BW Control US Information Agency 14 September 1992 - US statement on US-UK-Russia confirmation of their commitment to full compliance with the 1972 Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention.
• US Reiterates Support for Biological Arms Convention US Information Agency 10 April 1992 - Statement by ACDA Deputy Assistant Director Edward Lacey to the closing session of the March 30-April 10 meeting of government experts examining possible verification measures for the convention.
• US 'Open Minded' to BWC Proposals, Lacey Says US Information Agency 02 April 1992 - Speaking during an interview, Arms Control and Disarmament Agency official Edward Lacey said that the US believes insurmountable problems prevent the development of a verification regime for the 1972 Biological and Toxin Weapons (BWC) convention.

  1991

• Review Conference Strengthens Biological Weapons Ban US Information Agency 27 September 1991 - Michael Moodie, Assistant Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency Bureau for Multilateral Affairs, told the final plenary meeting of the three-week conference in Geneva that he was "satisfied" with the implementation of the ban.
• US Opposes Biological Weapons Verification Regime US Information Agency 11 September 1991 - The verification regime planned for the international chemical weapons ban would be an inappropriate model for the Biological Weapons Convention and could even harm the effectiveness of the convention says Assistant ACDA Director Michael Moodie.
• US Proposes Strengthening Weapons Convention US Information Agency 10 September 1991 - ACDA Director Ronald Lehman says strengthening compliance with the Biological Weapons Convention must be the primary task of the Third Review Conference on the ban.
• Conference Can Strengthen Biological Weapons Regime US Information Agency 10 September 1991 - ACDA Director Ronald Lehman's address to the Third Review Conference of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention.
• Biowar treaty in danger By Susan Wright Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists September 1991 Vol. 47, No. 7 The review conference presents an opportunity to close an important loophole in the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention.
• US Stresses Compliance with Biological Weapons Pact US Information Agency 28 August 91 - While the US supports the Biological Weapons Convention, Michael Moodie of the ACDA says that ways to strengthen and improve the convention should be addressed at a review conference scheduled next month.
• BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION REVIEW CONFERENCE 1991 ACDA Factsheet - March 27, 1991