Statement by Mr. D.B. Venkatesh Varma, Ambassador and Permanent
Representative of India to the Conference on Disarmament
Meeting of Experts of the BWC, Geneva, August 10 2015

Mr. Chairman,

We congratulate you on the assumption of the Chair of the 2015 BWC meetings and assure you of the full cooperation of the Indian delegation.

2.   India associates itself with the statement made by the Islamic Republic of Iran on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement and Other States Parties to the BWC.

Mr. Chairman,

3.   As we mark the 40th anniversary of its entry into force this year, India stresses the high importance of the BWC as the first disarmament treaty banning an entire class of weapons of mass destruction. India shares the widespread interest amongst States Parties to strengthen the effectiveness and improve the implementation of the Convention through the negotiation and conclusion of a Protocol for that purpose covering all provisions of the Convention We believe this is necessary in view of the new challenges to international peace and security emanating from proliferation trends, including the threat posed by terrorists or other non-state actors seeking access to biological agents or toxins for terrorist purposes. It is the responsibility of States Parties to ensure that their commitments and obligations under the Convention are fully and effectively implemented. We believe that only a multilaterally agreed mechanism for verification of compliance can provide the assurance of compliance by States Parties of obligations under the Convention and act as a deterrent against non-compliance. India has submitted its CBMs in 2015 and is thus up to date in this regard. We have participated actively in the meetings of the inter-sessional programme which have the mandate of promoting common understanding and effective action on issues identified by the Seventh Review Conference.  India supports a robust consultation process amongst all States Parties leading to the Eighth Review Conference next year so as to contribute to its success through adequate preparations on substantive and procedural issues.

Mr. Chairman,

4.   The standing agenda item on review of S&T developments presents the best opportunity for States Parties to keep pace with the rapid developments in biological science and technology which might impact the implementation of the Convention. There were useful discussions under this agenda item last year. Our focus this year is on high risk dual use research with specific focus on advances in production, dispersal and delivery technologies of biological agents and toxins. Our aim should also be to seek greater clarity on aspects of range of types and quantities of such agents and toxins, whether naturally occurring or altered which potentially could pose a risk to the Convention, for the purpose of reaching common understandings on criteria for assessing risks of relevance to the Convention.

5.   In our view, measures taken to mitigate biological risks should be proportional to the assessed risk and not hamper legitimate peaceful activities including international cooperation. Further, there should be no hindrance to peaceful activities such as vaccine development, which are important for developing countries for meeting their public health needs. India looks forward to continuing discussions on Codes of Conduct and education and awareness raising to explore ways to achieve further progress under the Convention. We should continue to explore various proposals on conducting S&T review under the Convention in the run up to the next Review Conference, including the proposal made by India in the working paper submitted to the last Review Conference. 

6.   India supports the full and effective implementation of Article X as an integral and essential part of compliance of the Convention. There is need for efforts to identify and overcome obstacles in implementation of Article X to generate equitable benefits for States Parties, in particular developing countries.  India has regularly shared its experiences in implementation of Article X in previous BWC meetings and submitted a Working Paper in December 2014 containing its National Report on Article X Implementation.

7.   While India continues to attach high importance to the full and effective implementation of Article X, we believe that strengthened implementation of Article III would ensure that the cooperation envisaged under Article X is taken forward in mutual confidence it will not be abused.   Thus effective national export controls are important tools to prevent the misuse of biological agents and toxins for purposes prohibited by the Convention or falling into the hands of terrorists, which is a major concern for the international community.   In this regard, it is important to build broad based support in the BWC for establishing common standards of national export controls as part of our effort to strengthen implementation of Article III of the Convention.

8.   India has strong and law-based national export controls and is committed to maintaining the highest international standards with reference to control of biological agents and toxins to ensure that transfers are authorised only when the intended use is for purposes not prohibited under the Convention.

9.   The standing agenda item on National Implementation provides a ready platform for States Parties to share and learn from their national experiences in the implementation of the Convention. We have emphasized the responsibility of States Parties to fully implement their obligations under the Convention and adopt requisite national measures to this end. India has a broad based regulatory framework to prevent the misuse of biological science and technology, including effective export controls matching the highest international standards. We also support assistance to States Parties for strengthening their national systems for bio-safety and bio-security. 

10.   India views Article VII assistance as a legal obligation of States Parties, as clearly laid out in the Convention and as agreed in previous Review Conference documents. An event relating to violation of the BWC is more than a public health emergency under the IHR (2005). While coordination and cooperation with relevant UN bodies such as the WHO, FAO, OIE, etc. are important complementary measures,  it is clear that the lack of a comprehensive Protocol to strengthen implementation of all aspects of the BWC has created a gap in the international community’s capacity to respond effectively and  provide assistance to States Parties to the BWC. Pending the conclusion of a comprehensive Protocol, a separate data-base on Assistance under Article VII could be a useful first step in bridging this gap. We are happy to join France in tabling WP 7 on this subject, which we hope will receive broad based support in this meeting.  

Mr. Chairman,

11.   The Ebola Virus Disease outbreak last year caused considerable concern as a major international public health emergency. India announced a contribution of more than US $ 12 million to the Ebola Response Multi-Partner Trust Fund, the WHO and the purchase of protective gear for addressing this outbreak. In August 2014, India had provided immediate bilateral financial assistance for purchase of medical supplies to three of the affected countries – Sierra Leone, Liberia and Republic of Guinea.  Diagnostic support was provided to Sri Lanka through WHO-SEARO for diagnosis of suspected Ebola. We acknowledge that a number of UN bodies and WHO as well as individual countries contributed to efforts to the address public health emergency in West Africa along with NGOs active in the field. Here we would like to recognize the commendable role, in particular of Medecins Sans Frontiers and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

12.   Though there is nothing to suggest that this outbreak was an event of concern to the BWC, we believe that it holds important lessons for the international community including States Parties to the BWC through an exchange of views on the following:  the preventive, preparedness, response and recovery activities at the national, regional  and international level related to such an outbreak ; whether the existing modalities of international response allow for timely and adequate support and assistance to the affected countries and peoples including first responders and health care workers; and ways to assure timely access to affordable drugs and vaccines and related diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic equipment to affected people especially those in developing countries.

13.   It was our  hope that such a discussion will yield valuable ‘lessons-learnt’ of relevance to the BWC, including those Articles which are on the agenda of this meeting.  Some delegations have engaged on this issue including through submission of working papers which is a welcome development. In our view, it is too early to draw definitive conclusions but we have to take into account some important trends– namely, lack of ready operational capacity, delay in mounting an effective international response and the need for change in the research and development model to ensure timely, accessible and affordable medical support for affected populations at a time when major pharmaceutical companies are reluctant to invest in relevant drugs and vaccines before there is an assured market. While this issue is being considered elsewhere, including at the WHO, the BWC should also remain engaged in this regard.

Mr. Chairman,

14.   We appreciate your efforts with respect to promoting the universalization of the Convention.  We also appreciate the efforts of the ISU, which should continue to work within the mandate set out by the Seventh Review Conference. 

Thank you.