Biological Weapons

Close of the Eighth Biological Weapons Convention Review Conference in Geneva

For more than four decades, the Biological Weapons Convention has embodied international will against the use of disease as a weapon. No nation claims that biological weapons are legitimate or admits pursuing them, and we are all safer for it. This norm remains strong, as does the U.S. commitment to work with other nations to combat this threat, despite the less than satisfactory outcome of the Convention’s Eighth Review Conference in Geneva last week.

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Acting U/S Countryman: Together We Can Take Decisive Action to Strengthen BWC Implementation

Tom Countryman

This Conference should state unambiguously that use of biological weapons under any circumstance is unacceptable, that allegations of such use should be investigated promptly, and that those responsible for the use of such weapons will be held accountable.

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Acting Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Tom Countryman Travels to Belgium and Switzerland

Acting Under Secretary Countryman will join the U.S. Delegation to the 8th Biological Weapons Review Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, November 7-10.

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Ambassador Wood: Remarks at UNGA Thematic Discussion on Other Weapons of Mass Destruction

The United States shares the concerns that have been expressed by other UN Member States regarding the threat of chemical and biological terrorism.

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Joint Statement on the Biological Weapons Convention Review Conference

The Foreign Ministers look forward to the Eighth Review Conference of the Convention in November this year agreeing on substantive measures that will significantly strengthen the Convention and contribute in a measurable way to reducing the threat of biological agents being used as weapons.

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U.S. Statement at the opening of the BWC PrepCom

The United States shares concerns that have been expressed regarding biological, as well as chemical terrorism, and believes that we should address these concerns in the context of the existing international framework.

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Ambassador Robert Wood’s Statement at the BWC Preparatory Committee Meeting

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The BWC is an important agreement with noble objectives, and it has contributed to international peace and security. Unfortunately, it is also true that the threat of biological weapons remains real.

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Ambassador Robert Wood Addresses Biological Weapons Convention Opening Plenary

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International cooperation is an important element of the BWC. We know there are disagreements about how to advance the goals of Article X of the Convention; but we should not allow those disagreements to prevent us from agreeing where we can and identifying specific steps we can take.

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VIDEO: Ambassador Wood: Strengthening the Biological Weapons Convention

VideoWood

The 2015 Meeting of States Parties (MSP) to the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) will be held at the United Nations Office in Geneva from 14 to 18 December 2015.   In this interview, Ambassador Robert Wood, U.S. Special Representative for Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention Issues, discusses efforts to drive effective action toward further implementation of […]

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U.S. Statement at the Meeting of Experts to the BWC

The United States continues to welcome the opportunity these meetings present for a substantive dialogue on ways we can strengthen the Convention and its implementation.

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