Report of the second preparatory meeting (Geneva, 25 April 2006)
Participation
Meeting organization
Introductions were provided by Ambassador Wolfgang Petritsch (Austria; Presidency); Ms Annalisa Giannella, Personal Representative of the High Representative on Non-proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction; Mr Richard Lennane, UN Department for Disarmament Affairs and Secretary of the 6th Review Conference of the BTWC as well as Dr Jean Pascal Zanders, Director of the BioWeapons Prevention Project (BWPP); and Ms Angela Woodward, Legal Coordinator at the BWPP who are entrusted with the technical implementation of the EU Joint Action in support of the BTWC.
The meeting was structured in such a way as to inform the target countries of the EU policies regarding arms control and non-proliferation and the specific goals of the EU Joint Action, the security and other benefits a state may acquire from joining the BTWC (including health and food security), and the legal obligations a state assumes when joining the BTWC and already has under UN Security Council resolution 1540.
A coffee break and an after-meeting reception enabled informal contacts with the representatives from target states.
Outcomes
Participants from States not yet party to the BTWC welcomed the initiative of the information meeting on the universalisation of the convention, and expressed their country's general interest to participate in the regional seminars on universalisation. The type of support that target states can expect from the EU Joint Action to participate in the regional seminars was clarified.
A considerable part of the debate focussed on the possible legal assistance the EU might give to states preparing their ratification or accession to the BTWC. It was argued that legal assistance forms an integral part of the universalisation process. The current Joint Action promotes universalisation through regional seminars, on the one hand, and national implementation assistance for States Parties, on the other hand. It was explained that the issue will be taken up in a possible follow-on Joint Action on the universalisation of the BTWC. Meanwhile States not party to the BTWC were encouraged to contact the Council if they want assistance with the preparations to become a state party.
- Eight representatives from 7 States not yet party to the BTWC participated: Côte d'Ivoire; Egypt; Eritrea; Haiti; Israel; Myanmar; Syrian Arab Republic
- Twelve representatives from 4 International and Regional Organisations: International Committee of the Red Cross; UN Department for Disarmament Affairs; UN Institute for Disarmament Research; World Health Organization.
- Forty-six representatives from 20 EU Members and 1 representative from 1 Candidate Member participated: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, as well as Bulgaria.
- Two representatives from 2 other States Parties to the BTWC also attended: Australia and Switzerland.
Meeting organization
Introductions were provided by Ambassador Wolfgang Petritsch (Austria; Presidency); Ms Annalisa Giannella, Personal Representative of the High Representative on Non-proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction; Mr Richard Lennane, UN Department for Disarmament Affairs and Secretary of the 6th Review Conference of the BTWC as well as Dr Jean Pascal Zanders, Director of the BioWeapons Prevention Project (BWPP); and Ms Angela Woodward, Legal Coordinator at the BWPP who are entrusted with the technical implementation of the EU Joint Action in support of the BTWC.
The meeting was structured in such a way as to inform the target countries of the EU policies regarding arms control and non-proliferation and the specific goals of the EU Joint Action, the security and other benefits a state may acquire from joining the BTWC (including health and food security), and the legal obligations a state assumes when joining the BTWC and already has under UN Security Council resolution 1540.
A coffee break and an after-meeting reception enabled informal contacts with the representatives from target states.
Outcomes
Participants from States not yet party to the BTWC welcomed the initiative of the information meeting on the universalisation of the convention, and expressed their country's general interest to participate in the regional seminars on universalisation. The type of support that target states can expect from the EU Joint Action to participate in the regional seminars was clarified.
A considerable part of the debate focussed on the possible legal assistance the EU might give to states preparing their ratification or accession to the BTWC. It was argued that legal assistance forms an integral part of the universalisation process. The current Joint Action promotes universalisation through regional seminars, on the one hand, and national implementation assistance for States Parties, on the other hand. It was explained that the issue will be taken up in a possible follow-on Joint Action on the universalisation of the BTWC. Meanwhile States not party to the BTWC were encouraged to contact the Council if they want assistance with the preparations to become a state party.