Sergey Lavrov warns military‑biological activities abroad raise questions about Convention compliance
Lavrov told a seminar on national implementation that cross-border biological threats and misuse of biotechnology put the Convention’s compliance into question.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that military-biological activities conducted by some states outside their own territories raise serious questions about compliance with the Convention on the Prohibition of Biological and Chemical Weapons. He made the remarks today at a seminar on national implementation of the Convention.
Lavrov said that biosecurity remains an active concern, pointing to the cross-border nature of biological threats, the potential misuse of biotechnology, and the possible use of biological agents and toxins as terrorist weapons.
He also said that military-biological projects carried out on a state's territory under the pretext of cooperation represent a significant issue for compliance with the Convention.
Russian priorities
Lavrov argued that efforts to universalize and strengthen the regime are needed now more than ever. He listed Russia's priorities, which include drafting a universal, legally binding protocol to the Convention accompanied by an effective verification mechanism and ensuring that signatory states fulfil their obligations.
He added that Russia supports establishing a system to assess scientific and technological advances in the biological field and measures to control research.
Photo: press material from the event
