US Mission Geneva

The United States hosted a side event December 14, 2012 at the United Nations in Geneva during the Meeting of States Parties of the Biological and Toxins Weapons Convention

AGENDA 0900-0910   Introductions Ambassador Laura Kennedy   0910-0950   Overview of assistance programs U.S. Department of Defense Assistance Programs Assistant Secretary of Defense Andy Weber Presentation (pdf) U.S. Department of State Assistance Programs  Assistant Secretary Tom Countryman   Presentation (pdf) U.K. Assistance Programs Ambassador Jo Adamson Canada Assistance Programs Ms. Kelly Anderson 0950-1000   Discussion Additional Background [...]

Today’s biological weapons threat is a complex challenge, requiring a layered, nuanced and integrated response. We need a wide range of partners to advance our shared goals.

Following up on the the Bio-Transparency and Openness Initiative announced by Secretary Clinton at the December 2011 Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BWC) Review Conference, the U.S. hosted a visit July 24 to its National Interagency Biodefense Campus at Ft. Detrick.

The Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BWC) States Parties held their annual Meeting of Experts in Geneva July 16-20, 2012. For the first time, states worked on an agreed agenda of cooperation and assistance, national implementation and science and technology, which will carry over each year until the next Review Conference, and an additional focus on confidence building measures.

US presentation on dual use risk concerns related to H5N1 research by Dr. Larry Kerr at July 17 US-Dutch joint side event for the July 2012 BTWC meeting of experts.

U.S. working papers for the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) meeting of experts.

United States views the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) as serving an important function in the BWC.

“In our interconnected world, our system of collective security is only as strong as the weakest links in the chain.”