Statement by H.E. Amb. Kwon Haeryong
Head of Delegation to the BWC Preparatory Committee Republic of Korea
Geneva, April 14, 2011
Mr. Chairman,
I would like to join the previous speakers in congratulating you on your assumption of the Chairmanship of the 2011 PrepCom. We have every confidence that your skillful management of the PrepCom Meetings is laying the ground on which meaningful progress can be achieved in this year’s RevCon. I assure you of the full support and cooperation of my delegation during the course of our deliberations and further preparation of the RevCon..
I would also like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the Implementation Support Unit (ISU) for their laudable efforts in preparing for this Meeting. I hope they will continue to play an active role in promoting the implementation and universality of the Convention and in facilitating the exchange and cooperation among States Parties.
Mr. Chairman,
The advancement of biotechnology and life sciences has resulted in the widespread availability of dual-use technology. This has rendered it increasingly difficult to make a clear distinction between the peaceful use of biological material permitted in the BWC and the military use prohibited by the Convention. There is, indeed, a greater risk that potential proliferators will take advantage of those loopholes.
Furthermore, the risk that terrorists may acquire biological material adds a new dimension to such threats. This requires that the BWC keep abreast of these developments to counter effectively the new emerging threats.
The BWC now faces a new occasion to revitalize itself through an overall review at the upcoming 7th Review Conference. Many countries have been making great efforts to strengthen the BWC. We fully appreciate the valuable ideas they have put forward. We also strongly support the idea of continuing the inter-sessional
meeting process and dealing with both issues which have already been discussed and new issues. In addition, we are of the opinion that the adoption of the Action Plan for universality and national implementation may be one possible means to shore up the Convention.
We think that considerations of measures taken outside the BWC but evaluated as useful against Biological Weapons related threats should also be addressed in the upcoming Review Conference as part of efforts to strengthen the effectiveness of the BWC.
Mr. Chairman,
As with other disarmament fora, we are faced with difficulties we have known in the process of setting up important conferences. We trust your vigorous consultations prior to the meeting and skillful management during the meeting will lead to ensuring the relevance of the BWC to counter BW threats. I believe that , with the cooperative and flexible manner which was shown by the member sates during the meeting, the RevCon will be successful. I thank you. /end/
