Biological weapons experts meet at UN in Geneva

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 08:56:43 GMT

Geneva - A group of experts on biological weapons were set to begin Monday a week of meetings at the United Nations office in Geneva on better ways to prevent the manufacture and use of such arsenals as well as ways to utilize related sciences for constructive purposes. "These experts' contributions will be crucial to help us review our existing disease surveillance, detection, diagnosis, and containment capacities, and identify the resources that might be used to help others build their capacity," Marius Grinius, the chair of the meeting and a Canadian ambassador said.

Grinius noted that the meeting was taking place in the shadow of the A(H1N1), or swine flu, pandemic. Biological weapons are prohibited from being produced, stockpiled or used by the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), which entered into force in 1975, and was negotiated under the Conference on Disarmament, hosted by the UN in Geneva. This year's meeting of experts would focus on using biological sciences and technology for peaceful purposes, disease surveillance, and fighting infectious diseases. The experts would also try to promote cooperation between nations. The BWC was the first multilateral disarmament treaty banning an entire category of weapons, and over 160 countries have pledged to abide by its rules. Most major military powers are parties to the convention, with the exception of a few, such as Egypt, Israel and Myanmar.