CANADIAN COMMENTS ON BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION

UNCLAS OTTAWA 001066 SIPDIS GENEVA FOR CD DEL; THE HAGUE FOR CWC DEL; USUN FOR UNDC DEL (PUTNAM) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM PREL CA CBW BWC SUBJECT: CANADIAN COMMENTS ON BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (BWC) MEETINGS REF: STATE 89707 (U) Canada agrees with us that there is plenty of work to be done within the scope of the 2003-2005 BWC agenda (reftel), and will encourage contributions by BWC member countries. Marina Laker, Foreign Affairs Deputy Director for Non-Proliferation, told us that Canada strongly promotes national measures, and expects to have three papers of its own for the August 18-29 Expert Group meeting. Two of its papers will deal with CBRN controls and terrorism, and one will be an update on Canada's BTWC implementation legislation. The latter is part of Omnibus Public Safety Act C-17, which is currently in Parliamentary Committee. BTWC implementation is not controversial, but C-17 has been held up by debate on other aspects of the bill such as air passenger information. CELLUCCI