Addressing the Seventh Review Conference of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons, Hasan Al Nesf, the Chairman of the Qatari national commission for the prohibition of weapons said that Qatar, as per its commitment, has no defensive or offensive biological weapons and has no research or stockpiling activity in this field.
He explained that the commission’s strategy has set a number of objectives that have been realized, including implementation of the provisions of the convention.
Al Nesf said that there were still many countries outside of the Biological Weapons Convention and this constituted an international risk. Universalization of the Convention was crucial for international security, he added.
Qatar respected its obligations under the Convention and it did not research, produce or develop such weapons. Qatar did not store any biological or toxin agents either.
The national commission for the prohibition of weapons held workshops and targeted issues concerning the Armed Forces as well as other sectors. The national commission was also setting up a database and training human resources on the topic, Al Nesf added. The national commission had completed a draft law to issue permits for controlled biological agents that were on the list of the Australia Group. The draft law was one of the measures taken in compliance with Security Council Resolution 1540, he said.
Qatar also implemented health regulations and had a system of notification from doctors as soon as there were signs of epidemics.
Qatar welcomed the holding of a Conference in 2012 in Finland on the topic of the Elimination of Weapons of Mass Destruction, Al Nesf said.
Source: Qatar News Agency – QNA
