International Forum on Biosecurity
"Confronting Biological Threats:
Biosecurity, Biological Weapons Nonproliferation, and Regional Cooperative Mechanisms”
Amman, Jordan
October 27-29, 2008
Organized by the Arab Institute for Security Studies (ACSIS)
(www.acsis.org)
Co-sponsored by the Verification Research, Training and Information Centre (VERTIC) (www.vertic.org/NIM)
Co-sponsored by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(www.minbuza.nl)
Co-sponsored by the Institute for Security Studies – (ISS South Africa)
(www.issafrica.org)

PROGRAMME    

Sunday - October 26, 2008
All day Arrival of participants
Please refer to logistics chart for airport pick-up arrangements and details on accommodation, venue, etc
 

Sunday - October 26, 2008
Venue: University of Jordan
08,45 – 09,10
---------------------------------
 Opening Session
 09,20 – 10,00









---------------------------------
10,00 – 10,15
---------------------------------
 Biological Weapons Proliferation and Attack Prevention
 10,15 – 11,45




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 Biosafety and Biosecurity Mechanisms to Reduce Risks
11,45– 13,15






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13,15 – 15,00
---------------------------------
 Boeing Session
15,00 – 15,45

---------------------------------
  15,45-17,45









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19,00		 Conference Registration

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Opening statements
     o H.E. Mrs. Joanna M. van Vliet, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the
       Netherlands to the Royal Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
    o H.E. Ambassador Georgi Avramchev, Permanent Representative of FYR
       Macedonia in Geneva, Chair of the 2008 Meetings of the Experts and
       States Parties to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (video
       greeting)
    o Mr. John Stammreich, Boeing
    o Mrs Angela Woodward, VERTIC
    o HRH Princess Aisha bin Al-Hussein, ACSIS Chairman
    o University of Jordan
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Coffee break
------------------------------------------------------------------------Panel 1:
     o Chair: Mr Noel Stott
    o Ms Paula De Sutter: Relationship between BW attribution and the
       deterrence of BW use
    o Dr David M. Coates: Role of export controls in biosecurity and non-
       proliferation
    o Dr Steve Kornguth: Biodefense in the Middle East
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Panel 2:
     o Chair: Mr Michael Moodie
    o Dr Maxwell Otim Onapa: Developing biosafety and biosecurity
       measures– an example from Uganda
    o Prof. Dott. Maria Rita Gismondo: How to face bioterrorism – the role of
       clinical microbiology
    o Mr Mostafa Mohaghegh: Disaster Risk Reduction, Global and National
       Frameworks and Mechanisms
    o Dr Sally Hoffer: Biosecurity in the Netherlands
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lunch (and optional tour of campus)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boeing Session
     o Mr. John Stammreich & Dr. Tom Austin: Public-private partnerships for
       global biosecurity
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Panel 3: 
     o Chair: Dr Amy Smithson
    o Dr Guillermo Velarde: An overview of the biological weapons threat
    o Dr Miss Sudha Raman: The emerging biological weapons threat
    o Mr Michael Moodie: Global diffusion of life science research –
       implications for biological weapons proliferation and counter-
       proliferation
    o Dr Iris Hunger: Dual-use research, bioweapons and biosecurity
    o Dr Elisa D. Harris: Biotechnology research – biorisks and biosecurity
      responses
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dinner and cultural event (TBA)

Tuesday - October 28, 2008
Venue: Kempinski Hotel
 National Legislation and Awareness-Raising of the Threat 
09,30 – 12,30







---------------------------------

---------------------------------
12,30 – 13,30
---------------------------------
 Disease Surveillance and Preparatory Activities  
13,30 – 15,30







---------------------------------
15,30 – 15,45
---------------------------------
 International co-operation  
15,45 – 17,15




---------------------------------
19,00		 Panel 4: 
     o Chair: Mrs Angela Woodward
    o Mr Scott Spence: The VERTIC National Implementing Measures Project
       and legislative frameworks to prevent biological weapons proliferation
    o Dr Ajey Lele: Asian view on national and regional legislation
       implementation
    o Dr Brian Rappert: Experiences in promoting bioresponsibility through
       education
    o Dr Robert Matthews: Outreach, awareness-raising and codes of
       conduct
    o Professor Barry Kellman: Biological weapons non-proliferation –
       legislation scenarios
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coffee break announced throughout session
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lunch
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Panel 5: 
     o Chair: Dr Nisreen al-Hmoud
    o Dr Julie E. Fischer: Disease surveillance
    o Mr William Ampofo: Planning and capacity building of health and animal
       systems – the example of avian influenza
    o Dr Ray Zilinskas: Responding to intentional biological threats in
       agriculture – Agroterrorism, post-harvest food bioterrorism and
       emergency preparedness
    o Dr Amy Smithson: Best practices in disease disaster consequence
       management
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coffee Break
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Panel 6: 
     o Chair: Dr Ian Anthony
    o Dr Piers Millett: The Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention
       processes
    o Professor Barry Kellman: On Bioterrorism
    o Mr Robert M. Scripp: Biosecurity and INTERPOL’s role
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dinner 

Wednesday - October 29, 2008
Venue: Kempinski Hotel
Developing Regional Policies and Practices on Biosecurity 
09,30 – 12,30








---------------------------------
 Closing Session 
12,30 – 13,00


---------------------------------
13,30 – 16,30
---------------------------------
17,00		 Panel 7: 
     o Chair: Dr. Manar Nabolsi
    o Jordan Armed Forces (Department of International Affairs)
    o Dr Nisreen al-Hmoud: RSS (Royal Scientific Society) plans towards
       national bio-security
    o Mr Luciano Borin: Biosecurity Management Model in Jordan
    o Dr Robert Bull: Best practices for laboratory standards in biosafety,
       biosecurity and collaboration on technology development
    o Professor Gabriel Ogunmola: Biosecurity issues in Africa – Opportunities
       for regional and international collaboration and partnership
    o Dr Ali Karami: Regional cooperation mechanisms to prevent biological
       threats
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Closing statements
     o Mr Ayman Khalil, ACSIS
    o Mrs Angela Woodward, VERTIC
    o Mr. John Stammreich, Boeing
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Tour to Jerash (Ancient Roman City) (Lunch during tour)
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Formal dinner

Thursday - October 30, 2008
All day Departure of participants