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© RIA Novosti / Alexander Natruskin
A member of the Russian delegation, the Deputy of the state Duma, the former sanitary doctor Gennady Onishchenko told RIA Novosti about the problems associated with the destruction of biological weapons, the characteristics of control over the use of modern biotechnology and the international fight against infectious diseases.
Russia must achieve compliance with the international Convention on the prohibition of the development, production and stockpiling of bacteriological (biological) and toxin weapons and on their destruction. This view was expressed by the MP.
He recalled that the relevant document was adopted in 1971, but since then has not been elaborated by the international monitoring mechanisms for the implementation of its provisions. At the end of the last century, the world community tried to return to this subject, however, in 2001, the US actually used (almost immediately after the attacks) bio-weapons.
Anthrax as an excuse?
18 September 2001, within a few weeks to several media offices and two senators from the Democratic party came in the mail letters containing anthrax spores. Five people died, 17 more were infected. The FBI began one of the largest and most complex investigations and came to the conclusion that the crime was involved in the scientist Bruce Edwards Ivins, working in government laboratories at Fort Detrick. In 2008, he killed himself.
In the same year the Americans, as affected by the biological weapons side, out of the Convention unilaterally. “I believe that this (sending threat letters — ed.) was attended by US intelligence agencies, it was not the act of a lone madman. This is confirmed by the knowledge of the mode of such laboratories… no man, however experienced he may be, will not be able to realize this question, if adhered to basic mode (security). He will not allow the regime laboratory work with especially dangerous infections. So, it was done meaningfully,” — said Onishchenko.
Evidence of this intent is the fact that the Americans had the opportunity to divert attention from the twin towers and received consent for the stationing of its military aircraft on the territory of the former Soviet republics and the right of passage over the territory of our country. They sent troops to Afghanistan, their military base was located on the territory of the former Soviet republics, and in Russia appeared a transit base in Ulyanovsk for the passage of American planes.
Onishchenko recalled that the United States, “after retiring from the international consensus solution to this issue” decided unilaterally to establish “how and where” in the world to interpret the manifestation of infectious diseases.
American laboratory on the Russian perimeter
According to the parliamentarian, in those former Soviet republics, whose leadership has a strong influence in Washington, has been virtually destroyed the surveillance system, “which from time immemorial in our country was the main tool of the biological security of the state”. Onishchenko recalled that health services in the Soviet Union and Russia have always worked at a high level and equipped with the most modern equipment: of the USSR, eliminating this terrible infectious disease like smallpox, offered to help the rest of the world. And now our country continues to struggle with measles and polio, he added.
One of the components of the American program was the creation of a military microbiological laboratories in Russia’s neighboring countries. According to Onishchenko, the US in a way of trying to achieve several objectives.
First, it is able to conduct all kinds of experiments with germs and viruses outside of US jurisdiction, that is, in fact, beyond the national legislation.
And secondly, more importantly, I’m sure Onishchenko, is the study of natural focal infections, which are spread on the territory of our country and neighboring States, to be able to carry out various kinds of biological attack, “influencing health, creating instability and dissatisfaction of the population, including disabling the human contingent.”
“Other purposes of such laboratories can not be”, — he stressed.
Pole global control
Onishchenko said that Russia, realizing the reality of threats that have raised these issues at international conferences. At the G8 in Petersburg in 2006 adopted a Declaration on combating infectious diseases adopted by the leaders of the strongest Nations on our planet. The problem was also discussed in the framework of the G20, BRICS and SCO.
At meetings with representatives of States members of these organizations discussed the prevention of infectious diseases and the need to control for the possible use of biological formulations for the conduct of hybrid warfare to undermine the economy or create a destabilizing situation in the region. According to the parliamentarian, for the solution of all these problems Russia needs to assemble a conference of experts on biological and toxin weapons Convention. In addition it is necessary to regulate the use of technologies of synthetic biology and to establish cooperation of all States on this issue. It is also important to strengthen the role of the world health organization in the field of control over such technologies, which despite the undeniable usefulness, can be used as weapons.
“In order that the Convention finally worked, Russia needs based on our own experience, to take the situation into their own hands. One possible measure to address this issue could be the conference with the participation of politicians, diplomats and physicians. The purpose of such a conference — a vigorous response to the threat of infectious diseases. Today we are the country with the most modern and the most, I would say, having much experience in science in monitoring the identification, control and prevention of infectious diseases. It if want, our mission is global, we should honor and dignity to do” — concluded Onishchenko.