Conversion of Former BTW Facilities

Synopsis

The development, production, stockpiling and use in war of biological and toxin weapons are prohibited by international law. Although not explicitly stated, the two treaties outlawing such activities, the Geneva Protocol of 1925 and the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention of 1972, prohibit the continuation of activities previously performed in Biological and Toxin Weapons facilities not justified for prophylactic, protective or other peaceful purposes. Because conversion and other means of cessation of former BTW facilities are not explicitly addressed in the treaties mentioned above the problems involved in conversion ofBTW facilities have thus far only been discussed marginally in the open literature. In times of increased awareness of the danger of biological and toxin warfare (including the increased danger of terrorist use of biological and toxin weapons) it seemed necessary to us to invite experts from different parts of the world to discuss the pros and cons of conversion and the problems involved. It also became obvious to us that the conversion of former BTW facilities should be discussed with respect to the necessity of peaceful internatioual cooperation in areas related to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention. An additional reason to discuss matters of peaceful cooperation is that cooperation is explictly requested by Article X of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention.

Book details

Edition:

1998

Series:

NATO Science Partnership Subseries: 1 (Book 21)

Author:

Erhard Geissler, Lajos G. Gazsó, Ernst Buder

ISBN:

9789401153065

Related ISBNs:

9780792352495

Publisher:

Springer Netherlands

Pages:

N/A

Reading age:

Not specified

Includes images:

Yes

Date of addition:

2022-08-07

Usage restrictions:

Copyright

Copyright date:

1998

Copyright by:

Kluwer Academic Publishers 

Adult content:

No

Language:

English

Categories:

History, Law, Legal Issues and Ethics, Nonfiction, Science, Social Studies