Foreword by the Minster of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands

The challenges of the twenty-first century demand a response. In today’s globalised world, these challenges are international. Terrorism, climate change, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the threat of a possible arms race in space, mass migration from non-integrated countries to globalised core countries: this is the menacing face of our time. These challenges constitute security risks for us all. For that reason, I welcome initiatives such as this regional conference on biosecurity, organised by the Arab Institute for Security Studies and VERTIC in Amman, Jordan.

Because the challenges of the twenty-first century transcend borders, they demand a concerted response. No country can protect itself on its own. We need one another to find solutions. Concerns about the use of weapons of mass destruction are as old as the weapons themselves. The call for arms control is not new, but as history has shown, results are hard to achieve. Yet some successes demonstrate that progress is still being made. There is an incipient realisation that nuclear arms are now more of a liability than an asset for the countries that possess them. The Netherlands therefore strongly supports strengthening the international non-proliferation regime, of which the NPT is still the backbone. Moreover, we take every opportunity to call for ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and improvement in implementing of the Hague International Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (HCOC). With regard to chemical weapons, the international cooperation within the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is proceeding effectively, although the Convention is not universal yet.

Obviously, biological threats do not stop at national or even regional borders. They require a global and multilateral approach. The active participation of all regions is essential. In this context, the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) is one of the internationally recognised normative and legal cornerstones of biological disarmament and non-proliferation. The Convention establishes a total prohibition on biological weapons. The Netherlands and the European Union as a whole are working hard to strengthen the Convention by promoting its universality and providing assistance to countries, either directly or via NGOs such as VERTIC.

Universal adherence is key if we are to maximise international cooperation, build trust between states and fully benefit from the international instruments offered by the Convention. To date, 162 States Parties have ratified the BTWC. I strongly encourage all other states to follow their lead. The participation of all countries in the Middle East and other regions is crucial.

This conference represents an important first step within the Middle East toward strengthening the implementation of relevant legislation and fostering cooperation between governments and agencies within the region. I hope this meeting will bring about a productive exchange of ideas that will lead to even better cooperation. The challenges posed by biological threats affect us all.

   Maxime Verhagen
                     Minister of Foreign Affairs of The Netherlands