Global Security Newswire

A five-day experts meeting for the Biological Weapons Convention was scheduled to begin today in Geneva, Switzerland, Deutsche Presse-Agentur reported (see GSN, Aug. 20).

Participants are expected to consider disease monitoring, contagion countermeasures and other beneficial uses of the life sciences and associated technology. Also on the agenda is discussion of enhanced collaboration among countries.

"These experts' contributions will be crucial to help us review our existing disease surveillance, detection, diagnosis, and containment capacities, and identify the resources that might be used to help others build their capacity," said Canadian diplomat Marius Grinius, chairman of the meeting.

Representatives from the convention's 162 member nations are scheduled to gather in December for the annual states parties' meeting (Deutsche Presse-Agentur/Earth Times, Aug. 24).