US, ARMENIA GOVERNMENTS TO SIGN AN AGREEMENT ON BIOLOGICAL THREAT REDUCTION PROGRAM

armradio.am
05.02.2009 13:13

The Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Government of the
United States of America are planning to sign the Agreement between
the Department of Defense of the United States of America and the
Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Armenia Concerning
Cooperation in the Area of Prevention of Proliferation of Technology,
Pathogens and Expertise that Could Be Used in the Development of
Biological Weapons within the framework of the Biological Threat
Reduction Program. The Biological Threat Reduction Program already
works in Ukraine, Georgia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and
Uzbekistan.

The Program seeks partners in the global fight against biological
weapons proliferation. Through the Program the Armenian Ministry of
Emergency Situations and the U.S. Department of Defense will work
to improve Armenia’s overall biosafety and biosecurity systems and
procedures, consolidate and secure dangerous pathogen collections
and research, and enhance capacity to detect, diagnose, report and
respond to outbreaks.

Recognizing that disease has no boundaries, and terrorists remain
a continuing threat, the parties believe it is imperative to form
strategic partnerships to face these global challenges.

The United States of America welcomes Armenia, its newest partner to
the Biological Threat Reduction Program, and unde rscoring Armenia’s
scientific potential and existing resources, looks forward to
productive cooperation.

The Republic of Armenia, being committed to the global fight against
terrorism, appreciates the assistance of the United States and its
expertise in this area, and looks forward to tangible results for
the benefit of the two nations.

Work on the Biological Threat Reduction Program will be carried out
under the Agreement Between the Government of the United States of
America and the Government of the Republic of Armenia Concerning
Cooperation in the Area of Counterproliferation of Weapons of Mass
Destruction that was signed in 2000 and the bilateral Biological Threat
Reduction Program legal framework agreement that the governments of
the United States and the Republic of Armenia will sign soon.

Before signing the agreement, U.S. and Armenian experts have begun
to develop implementation plans for this cooperative endeavor.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress