Bioweapons.pdf

The Russian Federation delegation expressed confidence in the leadership of the Preparatory Committee for the Ninth Review Conference of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) and offered its support. Russia advocated for a legally binding protocol to the Convention with an effective verification mechanism, but acknowledged that this may not be possible due to the position of one state. Instead, Russia promoted initiatives to institutionalize the BTWC regime, including establishing an Open-ended Working Group, creating mobile biomedical units, introducing an investigation mechanism, and founding a Scientific Advisory Committee. Russia also supported proposals from other states, such as China's initiatives on export control and a code of conduct for biological scientists. The delegation expressed concern over military biomedical activities in countries near Russia, particularly in Ukraine, where it alleged that the US had supported biological laboratories in violation of the BTWC. Russia called on the US and Ukraine to provide transparency and answer questions about their compliance with the BTWC.