Task Force Recommendations on technical Items to move towards a WMD Free Zone in the Middle East
Meetings of a dedicated Task Force identify some concrete and practical items that could be taken in the process of moving towards a Weapons of Mass Destruction Free Zone in the Middle East
Since 2010, a “Task Force” of experts from the Middle East, European and US organizations have convened in meetings to discuss about the technical dimensions related to the establishment of a Weapons of Mass Destruction Free Zone (WMDFZ) in the Middle East. The meetings and the discussions of the Task Force, of which the Landau Network Centro Volta (LNCV) has been an active participant, have been successful in identifying a series of steps which could be taken in the process of moving towards the objective of a zone free of Weapons of Mass Destruction in the Middle East.
The goal of establishing a Middle East WMDFZ is shared, at least in principle, by all governments in the region, but current and past political and strategic realities continue to make achievement of a WMDFZ difficult. As “Track I” has seen many obstacles in allowing its process to move forward, the WMDFZ Task Force was formed as a “Track II” mechanism to explore in more depth specific technology and policy challenges associated with implementing a regional WMDFZ, and to identify potential opportunities for near-term confidence building and cooperation.
The Task Force consists of representatives from across Middle East and participants from Europe and other countries, bringing together a mix of policy and S&T expertise. Discussions explored fundamental concepts associated with a WMDFZ in the Middle East including key parameters, past and current debates, and general regional perceptions on the issue and its implications.
The Task Force identified the biological weapons (BW)-specific dimension as one to which dedicate a focus of its work. As a result of these discussions, the Task Force adopted the attached paper in November 2011. The paper outlines three technical pillars that would be key to support a zone free of biological weapons: prevention; detection; response and mitigation. The paper also outlines possible cooperative activities that should be undertaken by the Task Force and by actors in the Middle East to advance the overall objective.
The paper was presented and circulated at the Seventh Review Conference of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention at the United Nations in Geneva, during a specific side event held on December 13th, 2011.
Download the paper with the Recommendations of the Task Force:
WMDFZMEBW_Reccomendations_2011.pdf (445,74 KB)