News

Tracking Number:  259186

Title:  "Agreement Reached on Biological Weapon Export Controls." Twenty-two countries, known as the Australia Group, have agreed to control exports of organisms and the toxins they produce plus equipment that could be used in production of biological weapons. (921216)

Translated Title:  Acuerdan controles exportacion armas biologicas.; Accord de non-proliferation des armes biologiques (921216)
Author:  ODESSEY, BRUCE (USIA STAFF WRITER)
Date:  19921216

Text:
AGREEMENT REACHED ON BIOLOGICAL WEAPON EXPORT CONTROLS

(Argentina, Hungary apply to join group) (430) By Bruce Odessey USIA Staff Writer Washington -- Twenty-two countries have agreed to control exports of organisms and the toxins they produce plus equipment that could be used in production of biological weapons.

At a December 7-10 meeting in Paris, the countries, called the Australia Group, also advanced ideas for improving the effectiveness of their export licensing systems to discourage proliferation of chemical and biological weapons.

The United States implemented controls on equipment that could be diverted to biological weapons production a few months ago in anticipation of Australia Group action, a State Department official said December 16.

The United States has controlled exports of organisms and related toxins for years, but has now modified its system in line with the Australia Group's. While before it made a list of biological agents approved for export, restricting all others, now it lists 65 that are subject to control, conforming to the practice of other members of the group.

At earlier meetings, the Australia Group countries had already agreed on controlling export of 54 chemicals as well as equipment that could be used for manufacturing chemical weapons.

The Australia Group is an informal arrangement without legally binding obligations. The effectiveness of the 22 countries' cooperation depends on the commitment of each one to non-proliferation.

In a communique issued at the meeting's end, the participants stated that the effectiveness of their agreement "cannot be established in an absolute manner, but it has clearly raised the cost of acquiring an offensive chemical weapons capability by drying up some sources and diverting the delivery routes of chemical weapons proliferators."

The group also welcomed conclusion of the Chemical Weapons Convention after many years of negotiation and its endorsement by the United Nations General Assembly. Members reiterated their intention to become original signatories to the convention January 13 in Paris.

The group also welcomed applications for membership from Argentina and Hungary and invited their representatives to participate at the next meeting, in June.

Hungary's government held a seminar December 14 in Budapest on chemical and biological weapons proliferation for Eastern European countries now building their export-control systems. It was the third such session in three years held in cooperation with the Australia Group.

Australia Group participants are Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as the European Community.

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