Documents   Outcome Statement - Singapore  News and Media Releases   Interpol Asian Bioterrorism Workshop calls for further action (29/03/2006)        Interpol Asian Bioterrorism Workshop opens in Singapore (27/03/2006)        Singapore to host Interpol Asian Regional Workshop on Preventing Bioterrorism (15/03/2006) Speeches   Speech by Interpol Secretary General Ronald K. Noble (27/03/2006)   Keynote address by Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee, Singaporean Senior Minister of State for Law and Home Affairs (27/03/2006)   Welcome address by Khoo Boon Hui, Commissioner of Police, Singapore Police Force (27/03/2006) Photos   Photo gallery See also   All Interpol bioterrorism workshops and events

Delegates from 27 countries attended the INTERPOL Asian Regional Workshop on Preventing Bioterrorism, held in Singapore from 27-29 March, 2006.

The three-day meeting in Singapore brought together 78 participants from 27 countries in the Asian region, including police chiefs or their representatives, and scientific, legal and academic experts.

Delegates acknowledged the importance of enhanced partnerships and co-ordination between police, health and other appropriate agencies locally, nationally and internationally to:

• share information for regular threat and risk assessments to be made
• ensure preparedness in terms of establishing appropriate national legislation, inter-agency protocols, joint working procedures, early warning systems, equipment and regular training
• enable the implementation of the necessary measures to prevent, respond to and investigate bioterrorism.

In order to achieve these goals, each country was requested to identify an individual in their respective INTERPOL National Central Bureau and police service who would be responsible for maintaining contact with the INTERPOL General Secretariat on bioterrorism issues and to establish a direct link with the appropriate persons in their national health authorities.

'I am confident that participants at this workshop have learned a great deal on the issue of bioterrorism and will return to their home countries with a strong base from which to further develop their own national plans for preventing and combating bioterrorism,' said Singapore Police Commissioner Khoo Boon Hui.

INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald K. Noble underlined the importance of the organization’s efforts to assist member countries in the development of comprehensive bioterrorism-prevention plans.

'Since 2001 there has been more evidence of Al Qaeda’s interest in engaging in bioterrorist attacks than there was evidence of Al Qaeda’s interest in flying planes into buildings prior to 11 September 2001. Therefore, waiting for Al Qaeda to strike us with a bioterrorist attack before taking this threat seriously is simply unacceptable,' said Mr Noble.

'This week’s training workshop proves why the law enforcement community and partners in the public health, scientific and academic communities must work together to better understand the bioterrorist risks and threats confronting us.'

INTERPOL’s bioterrorism unit was created in 2004 with financial support from the Sloan Foundation, www.sloan.org, a non-profit institution. Further funding from the Sloan Foundation, in addition to a grant from Foreign Affairs Canada, will be used to continue the project.

In addition to the Americas regional workshop in Chile in July 2006, similar events in the Middle East and countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States are planned.