h VG ; DEC 19 1989
i em WHITEHEAD INSTITUTE

   

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Robert A. Weinberg

Member, Whitehead Institute
Professor of Biology

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
617/258-5159

December 15, 1989

Dr. Joshua Lederberg
Rockefeller University
1230 York Avenue

New York NY 10021

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Dear ps tag

As you may know, the Third Review Conference of the Biological Weapons
Convention will be held in 1991 in order to review and update international
agreements designed to ban the use of biological warfare and weaponry. These
conferences are held every five years and the U.S. State Department will begin
preparations for these negotiations shortly. The current Biological Weapons
Convention lacks verification measures; this has become a serious problem because
of advances in biotechnology and allegations of the proliferation of biological

weapons.

The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) is currently in the midst of a
major effort to draft proposals for consideration by the State Department and other
interested parties for use in these negotiations. FAS has been encouraged to do so
through contacts with both the Departments of State and Defense. This represents
a particularly auspicious time to strengthen this convention because of events in
eastern Europe and the declared interest of the Bush Administration to bar this
type of warfare.

I am currently chairing this Expert Working Group on Biological and Toxin
Weapons Verification under the auspices of FAS. We intend to prepare a report
f our recommendations over the next several months, and we very much would
like to solicit your help and expertise in reviewing aspects of these proposals and
suggesting alternatives. The Expert Working Group is composed of an "Inner Core"
group, which has met and will meet on a number of occasions over the next
months, and of a much larger "Review Group" from which comments will be

Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research / Nine Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142 617/258-5000 FAX 617/258-5061

 
 
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December 15, 1989

would like you to be a member of this Review Group. After each cycle, a
meeting will be held in either Washington or New York which will be
attended by members of the Core and Review Groups. While we would
encourage members of the Review Group to attend these meetings, I would
stress that in many cases written comments on proposals will suffice to
fulfill one's obligations as a Reviewer.

Sf wisi in two cycles, one in January and a second in May/June. We

We are currently moving forward rapidly in our planning and
deliberations. The list of the Core Group and the planned schedule is
attached. We would very much like to have your help and would
appreciate hearing from you at your earliest convenience concerning your
willingness to participate. Please note in the attached form that you may,
if desired, participate informally by making comments without formal
attribution and without being listed on any final report. We look forward
to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.

Sending my thanks and best wishes, I am

Very truly yours,

x

Robert A. Weinberg, Ph.D.

Member, Whitehead Institute

Professor of Biology, M.LT.
enclosures

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