Excellencies,
Distinguished Colleagues,
Friends

At the outset, I would like to express my appreciation and gratitude to our hosts from the Government of the Russian Federation for organising this important Conference and for extending such a wonderful hospitality.  Having begun my diplomatic career in Moscow 26 years ago and studied at the Moscow State University, this conference becomes even more special as it is like homecoming for me.

2.       We are very fortunate to have a number of distinguished experts with us today, Dr. Viktor Kholstov, former Head of the National Authority of the Russian Federation for CWC and BWC and Dr. James Revill from UNIDIR, who have specialised and distinguished themselves in the field of BWC.  Let me also recognise Mr. Daniel Feakes, a dear friend and a colleague with whom I have had the privilege of working very closely at the OPCW  and now as the Chief of the BWC ISU, as well as Mr. Richard Lennane, former Head of the BWC ISU and Ambassador Mohsen Naziri from Iran.  Before I invite the fellow panellists to make their presentations, I would like to make a few preliminary remarks.

3.       National implementation is an all-encompassing concept, as full and effective implementation of the Convention requires implementation of all the articles of BWC.  However, over the years, States Parties have focused on Articles III, IV, V and X of the Convention in the context of national implementation. In addition to these articles, several additional understandings and agreements have been reached by successive Review Conferences as well as meetings of States Parties during the inter-sessional periods.   These are all well documented and available in the Working Paper BWC/MSP/2018/MX.3/2 submitted in the context of the 2018 Meeting of Experts on Strengthening National Implementation.

4.       Since we are not in a negotiating forum, I would suggest a free-flowing discussion where all of us can share our understandings and views on effective national implementation and suggest ways to further strengthen it.  Some of the pointers for such an exercise could be:

• To look at the status of implementation, particularly with focus on national implementing measures including legislative measures and regulations to implement the BWC and to further promote their adoption.  In this context, we could look at some of initiatives undertaken by the OPCW, for example, the Distinguished Visitor Programme (inviting legislators and Members of Parliament to the OPCW), legal internship programme, national awareness workshops.
• To ensure appropriate controls on transfers of BWC relevant agents, toxins and equipment (both imports and exports) while ensuring that these provisions do not hamper economic or technological development and international cooperation in the peaceful uses of biological activities.  India, along with US, had tabled a Working Paper to the Eighth Review Conference on Strengthening Implementation of Article III which suggested a number of essential elements to be included in national measures.
• To improve domestic coordination of BWC related activities and promote cooperation and coordination through designation and effective functioning of BWC national focal points. We would also need to look at ways to strengthen coordination between the national focal points with the BWC ISU and other relevant international organisations. 
• CBMs: the rate of submission of CBMs has never been more than 50%.  The CBM forms are quite outdated and inconsistent and the system has not been comprehensively reviewed and overhauled for quite some time.
• Promoting education and outreach through engagement of the academic and scientific community.  Promoting awareness of BWC through inclusion in the curricula at high school and university level. We could learn from the OPCW model of Advisory Body on Education and Outreach.  Regional meetings of BWC national focal points, academics and curriculum specialists could also be looked at, as in the case of OPCW.
• Promoting industry outreach through engagement of industry associations and relevant industry.  We could look at Annual meetings of industry and BWC focal points – at regional and global levels– based on OPCW model.

• Capacity building through:
  • National and regional awareness workshops
  • Regional and international meetings of national focal points for sharing of experiences and best practices,
  • Training of BWC national focal points and scientists (ToT)
  • Training of customs officers (ToT)
  • E-learning modules
  • Mentorship programme (OPCW model)

• It is common experience that States Parties struggle to implement the Convention as there is no checklist of obligations under the BWC.  Perhaps States Parties could look at preparing a list of measures that countries should adopt in order to implement the BWC.  We could draw upon the assistance of BWC ISU in this regard.     

This was an illustrative list and not an exhaustive one. 

5.       I would like to invite you all now to share your valuable thoughts and suggestions in order to strengthen national implementation.  While we will present these to the conference tomorrow, it is our expectation that these will also feed into the upcoming meeting of experts as well as the annual meeting of States Parties.

Thank you.