Biological Weapons Convention

Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) website
This website is a factual compendium of official documentation and information on the BTWC, its Review Conferences, and ongoing efforts to strengthen the BTWC.

• Final Declaration of the First Review Conference, March 1980
• Final Declaration of the Second Review Conference, September 1986
• Final Declaration of the Third Review Conference, September 1991
• Final Declaration of the Special Conference, September 1994
• Final Declaration of the Fourth Review Conference, November - December 1996
• Final Document of the Fifth Review Conference - November 2001

Related Documents

• Geneva Protocol of 1925
• Australia Group
• Strengthening the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention: Countering the Threat from Biological Weapons.
  Presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by Command of Her Majesty, April 2002.

US Documents

• Statement by the US to the Fifth Review Conference, John R. Bolton, November 19, 2001
• Statement by the US to the Ad Hoc Group of Biological Weapons Convention States Parties, Ambassador Donald Mahley, July 25, 2001
• Biological Weapons Anti-Terrorism Act of 1989 (US legislation to implement the BWC)
• Statement on Signing the Biological Weapons Anti-Terrorism Act of 1989, President George Bush, May 22, 1990
• Executive Order No. 12735: Chemical and Biological Weapons Proliferation, November 1990
• Executive Order No. 12938: Weapons of Mass Destruction, February 1994
• Executive Order No. 13094: Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, July 1998
• US - China joint statement on BW, June 1998
• Clinton statement on the 75th Anniversary of the Geneva Protocol, June 2000
• Background on BW

Press Reports

• U.N. Discusses Germ-Warfare Plan, ABC News. November 11, 2002
• U.S. Drops Bid To Strengthen Germ Warfare Accord, Washington Post. September 19, 2002
• US in biological weapons warning, Financial Times. September 18, 2002
• BWC: With Threat, U.S. Pressures to End Review Conference Early, NTI Global Security Newswire. September 6, 2002
• Bioweapons Conference Fails, December 7, 2001
• Join Efforts To Monitor Ban On Biological Weapons, by Barbara H. Rosenberg. The Miami Herald. November 19, 2001

Papers

• Waiting for Godot or Saving The Show? The BWC Review Conference Reaches Modest Agreement
  By Marie Isabelle Chevrier. Disarmament Diplomacy. Issue No. 68, December 2002 - January 2003
• The U.S. Government’s Interpretation of the BTWC
• Disease by Design: De-mystifying the Biological Weapons Debate
  By Michael Crowley. BASIC. November 2000
• Ataxia: The Chemical and Biological Terrorism Threat and the US Response
  By Amy Smithson and Leslie-Anne Levy. The Henry L. Stimson Center. October 2000
• Draft Proposal for Global Monitoring, Research and Training to Control Infectious Diseases, Executive Summary Alliance Against Infectious Diseases. 2000.
• Germs for Peace: Bioweapons treaty is the best hope for a global eye on dangerous infections (Editorial, New Scientist, 8 April 2000)
• FAS Workshop on Establishing Programs for Scientific/ Technological Cooperation through International Organizations, July 1999
Program
Network of Regional Epidemiological and Diagnostic Centres for Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases (R. Dayal & P. Gavinio, WHO) Training for Improving Infectious Disease Recognition and Management (D. Fraser, INCLEN)
Development of Rapid Inexpensive Diagnostic Reagents Needed in the Developing World (M. Tam, PATH)
Assistance for Improving Knowledge and Practices in Peaceful Uses of Biotechnology (D. Ripandelli, ICCEB)
Communication Technology to Provide Critical Support for WHO's Role in Communicable Disease Management Around the World

Congressional Testimony

• Reducing the Threat of Chemical and Biological Weapons. Testimony before the Senate Committe on Foreign Relations. March 19, 2002
The Honorable Carl W. Ford
Mr. Michael Moodie
Dr. Amy Sands
Dr. Alan P. Zelicoff



• Russia, Iraq, and Other Potential Sources of Anthrax, Smallpox and Other Bioterrorist Weapons. Testimony before the House Committe on International Relations. December 5, 2001
Chairman Hyde's Opening Statement
Dr. Richard Spertzel
Dr. Kenneth Alibek
Elisa D. Harris



• The Biological Weapons Convention: Status and Implications. Testimony before the House Government Reform Committee, Subcommittee on National Security, Veterans Affairs and International Relations. June 5, 2001
Dr. Barbara Hatch Rosenberg, FAS Working Group Chair
Ambassador Donald A. Mahley, Department of State
Dr. O.J. Sheaks, Department of State



• The Biological Weapons Convention: Rethinking Our Priorities After September 11, excerpts from a Special Investigations Briefing for members of Congress. November 15, 2001



• The Biological Weapons Convention: Status and Implications. Testimony of the House Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security, Veteran's Affairs, and International Relations. September 13, 2000