INTRODUCTION

The norm against biological weapons enshrined in the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) is the foundation for the increasing, multifaceted array of efforts that is required to effectively tackle the biological weapons problem. However, since 2001 the BWC itself has become peripheral to efforts to counter biological weapons. The BWC must be strengthened and effectively implemented, and it must regain a central role in biological weapons control, if the law and the norm against biological weapons are to remain intact.

The success of the Sixth Review Conference will be determined by the ability of the Convention’s members, formally referred to as States Parties, to strengthen the treaty in the only way possible: by agreeing on ways to take significant, coordinated and collective action on a range of critical issues and challenges over the coming years. Many of these issues were actively discussed at various meetings in Japan, Glion, Switzerland, and the EU earlier this year, and were recently summarized in a presentation by Ambassador Masood Khan of Pakistan, the President-Designate of the Review Conference. Consensus may be growing around some possible approaches, such as the Accountability Framework proposed by Canada, to address some of these issues.

However, “the U.S. attitude will be pivotal … members will have to tailor proposals for follow-up work on strengthening the convention or its implementation to what Washington is prepared to live with.” While the U.S. joined other members of the G8 this July in a commitment to “facilitate adoption by the Review Conference of decisions aimed at strengthening and enhancing the implementation” of the BWC, the nature of the proposals it is willing to accept remain unclear. Meanwhile, Iran could also play the role of spoiler by insisting on measures that it knows the U.S. will not accept. The outcome of discussions on the following key issues thus remains uncertain.

1. Taking Effective Action: A New Work Program

2. Enabling Effective Action: A Stronger Support Mechanism

3. Fulfilling Obligations: National Implementation

4. Enhancing Transparency: Information Exchange and Confidence Building Measures

5. Resolving tensions: The relationship between non-proliferation and peaceful cooperation

6. Addressing Advances in Science and Technology

7. Achieving Universality

Proposals by States Parties on these Key Issues