„Biological Weapons Convention” Discussed at the Ministry of Defense

CHISINAU, June 22, 2011 — The regional workshop on BWC national implementation organized by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) has opened.

According to LTC Mariana Grama, Chief of Environment Protection Department, Logistics Command of the National Army, this meeting is organized at the request of Geneva UNODA Office. This is a EU-assistance mission in the Republic of Moldova focused on the implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction (BWC).

The Bacteriological Weapons Convention gives us the possibility to combat disasters associated with biological agents. The latest weapon deals with the casual or deliberate contamination with biological agents recorded in the environment that has a bad impact on the mankind, food security and animal health. By means of this convention, we are able to establish a legal background, including assistance, improve our capabilities to prevent, react and interfere in case such problems occur, Grama mentioned.

“This convention has a major role, mainly when speaking about the latest danger such as: E-coli virus discovered in vegetables in Germany, that had a great impact on the German and French population; bird and pandemic flu that has affected Republic of Moldova population too over the past few years; rabies, botulism and anthrax that has endangered our human and animal health over the past few years”, Mariana Grama specified.

Deputy Minister Igor Panfile, who attended the opening ceremony, stated “Such meetings are of a high importance for all the countries in the region, since they provide us the opportunity to exchange ideas, experience and lessons learned in term of national implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention, thus enhancing mutual understanding and strengthening security not only in the region but far beyond it. Starting from 2004, the Ministry of Defense has become part of the convention being in charge of coordination and implementation of the above convention”.

The goal of the workshop is to strengthen confidence among the convention member states, familiarize the public with the Republic of Moldova’s performances in term of implementation of the convention requirements (research centers and laboratories, counter proliferation measures of biological weapons, biological development programs, infectious diseases recorded, legislation, production, export and import of vaccines, etc), prevent ambiguity, doubts and suspicion, as well as enhance regional cooperation in the area of peaceful biological activities.

The workshop is held during June 22-24 and it is attended by 40 experts from such countries as: Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Great Britain, Germany, Ukraine, Portugal, EU, Moldova, USA, etc.