Lavrov: There are American biological laboratories in Armenia,  Kazakhstan and in the countries of Central Asia

ArmInfo. There are American biological laboratories in Armenia, Kazakhstan and in the countries of Central Asia. This was stated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei  Lavrov in an interview with RT Arabic, to clarify where else, apart  from Ukraine, there are American laboratories not far from Russia.

"There are such laboratories in Armenia, Kazakhstan and the countries  of Central Asia. We are considering these problems with these  countries on a bilateral basis and through the CSTO. We have  concluded (already concluded or being prepared for conclusion)  memorandums of cooperation on biological safety with almost all the  CSTO countries and other CIS countries, involving mutual informing  about how biological programs are developing in each of our  countries," the Russian minister noted.

At the same time, he pointed out the importance of transparency,  which makes it possible to make sure that these programs do not have  a military dimension, since it is prohibited by the Convention.  "These memorandums involve mutual visits and familiarization with the  activities of the laboratories. In addition, it is written that there  should not be military representatives of any third party at the  biological facilities of each of our parties," Lavrov added.

To clarify what interest these countries have in having such  laboratories, the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry recalled that  the Soviet Union was implementing a large biological program.

The diplomat noted that when the Soviet Union joined the Convention  on the Prohibition of Biological and Toxin Weapons, this program was  devoid of military aspects, but the scientific value of biological  research remains.

"We all remember the state of our country in 1991, when the USSR  ceased to exist. We were faced with the problems of maintaining the  integrity of the Russian Federation, the problem of the lack of state  reserves to pay off the state debt and even to purchase elementary  things necessary for the daily life of the Russian population. Our  Western partners then, as we say, actively " swept in", offered their  services in all areas of life, penetrated into all spheres of the  newly independent states, sent advisers, advisers," Lavrov said,  adding that Russia is now experiencing the consequences of those  times.

rNoting that after gaining independence, all post-Soviet republics  have been strengthened and established as absolutely sovereign,  independent states, the Russian Foreign Minister added that it is up  to them to decide which partners to choose.  "We have agreements with  them, according to which the obligations undertaken at one time  within the framework of the Commonwealth of Independent States, the  Collective Security Treaty Organization, the Eurasian Economic Union  should be fully respected by other countries interested in developing  relations with all states in the post-Soviet space. "We discussed the  problems that we all had during the formation of the new statehood.   Through various services, we exchange information about the risks  associated with such undivided cooperation with foreign countries in  delicate, sensitive areas. Biology, of course, is one of such areas.   There is an understanding that we have a common space for biological  safety. Security issues that directly relate to public health and the  environment are within the powers of the CSTO. We will continue our  constructive cooperation on the basis of all these statutory  documents," Lavrov summed up.

Earlier, in 2016, with the funding of the US Department of Defense,  three laboratories were opened in Armenia:  in Yerevan, in Gyumri and  in Ijevan. According to experts, currently, their number has reached  12. There are regular reports in the Armenian and Russian media that  these laboratories are dual-use facilities, can be used for military  purposes, to make and produce biological weapons.  The US DoD  allocated $15.5 million for the establishment of a reference  laboratory in Yerevan, with a total funding of $18 million. In  Yerevan, $4.1 million was invested for the complete construction of  the reference laboratory of the Department of Food Safety for Highly  Dangerous Pathogens of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of  Armenia, and $9.8 million was invested by the US government to repair  the reference laboratory of the "National Center for Disease Control  and Prevention" of the Ministry of Health of Armenia , ensuring the  seismic stability of the building and creating the necessary  laboratory infrastructure. An additional $1.7 million was allocated  for both laboratories to purchase new equipment and furniture.

It is noteworthy that Moscow and Yerevan announced the start of work  on a document on the admission of Russian specialists to American  biological laboratories in the Republic of Armenia back in 2018.   Moreover, the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Russia at a joint  press conference on November 11, 2019 in Yerevan, announced the  completion of work in this direction, and the expectation of the  agreement of the document at the interdepartmental level in the two  countries. However, after that, all talk on this issue subsided.