Col Vratislav Osvald

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

Welcome to the CBRN Workshop as a part of World CBRN & Medical Congress (CEBIRAM) which is design to discuss wide range of aspects related to prevention from, protection against and response to CBRN threats.

As of today, we are facing evolving threats from both state and non-state actors that includes range of complex challenges, including hybrid warfare, terrorism, cyber-attacks and wide range of events involving weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats.

The full extent of the potential threat cannot be predicted because CBRN threats can evolve in non-linear ways, and can be affected by a number of outside factors, including meteorological conditions, economy (Toxic Industrial Threats), flow of goods and people, etc. Such uncertainty can make it difficult to determine the nature or origin of such a threat, and complicate responses efforts when detailed information is not yet available.

Effective responses to CBRN events often require the initiation of a response before the origin or full extent of the event is understood, which requires familiarity with various aspects of diverse scenarios that can only be achieved through advanced consideration. Advance planning together with the access to timely, accurate and relevant information is a critical component of any CBRN response, heavily supported by the diverse, multipurpose capabilities necessary to provide the operational flexibility for a wide range of future CBRN response efforts.

All these topics closely linked with Lessons Learned from recent CBRN responses will be discussed at the workshop divided in four thematic panels harmonizing civil-military responses, defining challenges (e.g. Information exchange/sharing) and outlining the way ahead in response to future CBRN threats.

Therefore, on behalf of the CBRN Workshop Programme Committee, it is my pleasure to encourage CEBIRAM participants to attend the CBRN Workshop which, I am sure, will be recognized as interesting and beneficial for all of you.

Looking forward to see you in Prague.

Col Vratislav OSVALD
CEBIRAM/CBRN Workshop Chairman