Russia Maintaining Offensive Bio Weapons — U.S. Report


Evidence indicates that Russia along with Iran, North Korea and Syria continues to maintain biological weapons programs, AP reported Tuesday citing a U.S. State Department report.

The study, mandated by Congress, assesses compliance by foreign countries with arms control, nonproliferation and disarmament agreements. It covers developments over a two-year period ending in December 2004.

Available evidence shows that Russia “continues to maintain” an offensive biological weapons program, the report said.

The United States also reaffirms its judgment that China “maintains some elements of an offensive BW capability” in violation of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention.

Some government analysts continue to believe Cuba has at least a “limited offensive BW research and development effort.” Moreover, based on “all available information,” Iran has an offensive biological weapons program. U.S. analysts believe North Korea too has a “dedicated, national-level effort to develop a BW capability.”

Finally, the evidence shows that Syria would be violating the biological weapons convention rules if the nation were a member, AP added.