The Chambers of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation express their utmost concern over the increasing risks for the biological security of the population in all countries of the world without exception. Quite recently, our civilization has already faced the consequences of the irresponsible handling of hazardous biological agents. Scientific research publications pointing to the possible artificial origin of the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19), which caused a deadly pandemic, clearly show how critical such risks and threats are to the humankind.
These also include the establishment by some States of biological laboratories beyond their national borders to carry out research on potential biological warfare agents and dual-use activities. Such conduct often considerably aggravates the epidemiological situation in the vicinity of such facilities.
Joint efforts of all responsible countries are essential to ensure equal and indivisible security, including biological security. First of all, there is a need for national legislations and law enforcement practices to urgently incorporate the provisions of the relevant international instrument completely banning the entire category of weapons of mass destruction, i.e. the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction (BTWC).
However, the said Convention needs to be consistently reinforced. Its ongoing implementation sees more and more grey areas appear. The problem has become particularly relevant in light of the established facts of US military biological activities in Ukraine in violation of the BTWC. There are grounds to assume that the US side might also carry out this sort of unlawful activities at other biolaboratories across the world.
We call on parliamentarians to join efforts with Russia and engage in our investigation into the unlawful military biological activities conducted by the US in Ukraine, both to achieve an in-depth understanding of the situation and to take steps in all relevant areas and at all levels in order to prevent threats and risks of undermining the BTWC regime posed by such activities.
We further call on the parliamentarians of the world to draw the utmost attention of national legislators, international parliamentary bodies and organizations to the necessity for the world community to make a concerted effort and take urgent measures to strengthen the BTWC regime. Parliamentarians need to work together to build a suitable environment so that their respective governments could work to consolidate the BTWC regime.
The Chambers of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation are open to constructive discussions and meaningful cooperation on this agenda as well as to the implementation of the attached proposals to strengthen the regime of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction.
Addendum
Proposals to Strengthen the Regime of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction
The cross-border nature of biological threats dictates the need for States to adopt national legislative measures to enhance the biological incident prevention, response and mitigation systems. However, as is evidenced by the suspicious activity of the United States in Ukraine, such steps are clearly not enough, especially when it comes to the challenges arising from non-transparent and malevolent military and biological activities of individual States.
Without proper implementation of the provisions of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction (BTWC), it is impossible to establish a reliable international regime guaranteeing a world free from all real threats to biological security posed by irresponsible, and at times ill-intentioned, activities of certain countries.
Concerted collective action to strengthen the BTWC regime should become an integral part of the global efforts to ensure international security and stability and prevent biological threats. This affects the interests of all countries as it would help prevent ambiguities, doubts and suspicions among BTWC States Parties and improve international cooperation in the field of peaceful biological activities.
We believe that it is critical to resume the negotiations on the development and adoption of a legally binding Protocol to the said Convention establishing an effective verification mechanism to ensure compliance with its provisions. Washington has been blocking this work since 2001.
We consider it important to improve the annual reporting in the framework of the BTWC confidence-building measures by including therein the information on military and biological activities carried out by countries beyond their national borders.
There is an urgent need to create within the BTWC a robust capacity enabling us to analyse the confidence-building measures in terms of their adequacy and sufficiency taking into account scientific and technological advances.
