This workshop brought together over fifty representatives from seven countries in this region. Funded by Canada, participants ranged from technical health and agriculture specialists to national defence and trade representatives. Follwing opening remarks by the Chair, Ambassador Grinius of Canada, participants heard presentations from experts of the BWC's three depositary states (UK, US and Russia), as well as the BWC Implementation Support Unit (ISU) and the civil society organisation VERTIC. In addition to raising awareness about capacity-building opportunities, the seminar provided regional practitioners an opportunity to exchange information and views on common threats and best practices, with a view to advancing this year's intersessional topic of building capacity and collaboration.

Opening Session - Securing Biology (09.00 – 10.30)

Chair: Diedrah Kelly (Canada)

Introduction and Welcome (30 mins)

• Arman Baisuanov, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kazakhstan
• Diedrah Kelly, Embassy Canada to Kazakhstan
• Michael Weaver, International Science and Technology Center

Biological risks and threats (45 mins)

• Marius Grinius, Canada’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the Office of the United Nations in Geneva and to the Conference on Disarmament
• Michael Welch, Embassy of the United Kingdom to Kazakhstan
• Diedrah Kelly, Embassy of Canada to Kazakhstan
• Craig I Bell, US Embassy in Kazakhsatan

The international response to biological threats: the BTWC & UNSCR 1540 (30 mins)
Piers Millett, BTWC Implémentation Support Unit, United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs

Coffee Break (10.30 – 11.00)


Working Session A – Implementing the Global Ban (11.00 – 12.30)

Chair: Geoff Gartshore (Canada)

Components of national implementation: an overview (10 mins)
Piers Millett, BTWC Implementation Support Unit, United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs

Prohibitions: legislation, regulation, export controls and enforcement (20 mins)
Vladimir Bundin, Department of Security and Disarmament Affairs, Russian Federation


Oversight of science (20 mins)
Kevin Farmer, Bureau of International Security and Non-proliferation, Department of State, United States of America

Outreach, education, awareness-raising and codes of conduct (20 mins)
Lorna Miller, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Ministry of Defence, United Kingdom

Case Study 1 – Implementing the BTWC in Armenia (20 mins)
Nune Bakunts, State Hygiene and Anti-Epidemic Inspectorate, Ministry of Health, Armenia

Lunch (12.30 – 14.00)


Working Session B – The 2009 / 2010 BTWC Work Programme I (14.00 – 15.00)

Chair: Ngoc Phuong Huynh

The BTWC intercessional programme (30 mins)
Ngoc Phuong Huynh, BTWC Implementation Support Unit, United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs

Case Study 2 – Disease surveillance in Kazakhstan (30 mins)
Ospanov Kenes Sarsengaliuly, Head Physician of “Republican Sanitary and Epidemiological Station”, SSECC, Kazakhstan

Coffee Break (15.00 – 15.30)

Working Session C – The 2009 / 2010 BTWC Work Programme II (15.30 – 16.30)

Chair: Ngoc Phuong Huynh

Case Study 3 – The public health system in Tajikistan (30 mins)

Grezov Isohon, State Sanitary-Epidemiologic Control, Ministry of Health, Tajikistan

Case Study 4 – The animal health system in Afghanistan (30 mins)
Akhshid Javid, Permanent Mission to the United Nations Office at Geneva, Afghanistan


Discussion Session – Review of the main themes (16:30-17:00)

Reception (18.00 - 20.00)


DAY 2 – WORKSHOP

Introduction Session – Setting the Scene (09.30 – 10.00)

• Welcome (10 mins) - Arman Baisuanov, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kazakhstan
• Welcome (10 mins) - Marius Grinius, Canada’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the Office of the United Nations in Geneva and to the Conference on Disarmament
• Aims of this Workshop (10 mins) - Ngoc Phuong Huynh, BTWC Implementation Support Unit, United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs

Workshop Session A – Turning Legislation into Action (10.00 – 12.00)

Chair: Lorna Miller (United Kingdom)

The importance of a comprehensive legislative framework (30 mins)
Scott Spence, Verification Research, Training and Information Centre (VERTIC)

Coffee Break (10.30 – 11.00)

Acting as a focal point / national contact point (20 mins)
Piers Millett, BTWC Implementation Support Unit, United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs

Inter-departmental cooperation (30 mins)
Scott Spence, Verification Research, Training and Information Centre (VERTIC)

Canada's National Experience (10 mins)
Geoff Gartshore, Permanent Mission of Canada to the Office of the United Nations and to the Conference on Disarmament, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Canada

Lunch (12.30 – 13.30) – Restaurant “Сapri”

Workshop Session B – Transparency and Building Confidence (13.30 – 15.30)

Chair: Kevin Farmer (United States)

An introduction to the BTWC Confidence-building Measures (CBMs) (30 mins)
Piers Millett, BTWC Implementation Support Unit, United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs

UK experience and approaches in preparing a CBM submission (60 mins)
Lorna Miller, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Ministry of Defence, United Kingdom

Completing a CBM submission: Experience from the Region (30 mins)
Gela Mgeladze, National Centre for Disease Control and Public Health, Georgia

Coffee Break (15:30-16:00)

Discussion Session – Strengthening the BTWC (16:00 – 16.30)

Moderators:

• Vladimir Bundin (Russia)
• Lorna Miller (United Kingdom)
• Kevin Farmer (United States)

An opportunity to continue discussions raised throughout the day, for identifying issues of particular importance for this region and needs for assistance.

Closing Session – The BTWC and You (16.30 – 17.00)

Closing remarks (20 minutes)
Marius Grinius, Canada’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the Office of the United Nations in Geneva and to the Conference on Disarmament


Concluding remarks (10 minutes)
Arman Baisuanov, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kazakhstan