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05.02.2009 13:13
 The Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Government of the United States of America are planning to sign the Agreement between the Department of Defense of the United States of America and the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Armenia Concerning Cooperation in the Area of Prevention of Proliferation of Technology, Pathogens and Expertise that Could Be Used in the Development of Biological Weapons within the framework of the Biological Threat Reduction Program. The Biological Threat Reduction Program already works in Ukraine, Georgia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.
The Program seeks partners in the global fight against biological weapons proliferation. Through the Program the Armenian Ministry of Emergency Situations and the U.S. Department of Defense will work to improve Armenia’s overall biosafety and biosecurity systems and procedures, consolidate and secure dangerous pathogen collections and research, and enhance capacity to detect, diagnose, report and respond to outbreaks.
Recognizing that disease has no boundaries, and terrorists remain a continuing threat, the parties believe it is imperative to form strategic partnerships to face these global challenges.
The United States of America welcomes Armenia, its newest partner to the Biological Threat Reduction Program, and underscoring Armenia’s scientific potential and existing resources, looks forward to productive cooperation.
The Republic of Armenia, being committed to the global fight against terrorism, appreciates the assistance of the United States and its expertise in this area, and looks forward to tangible results for the benefit of the two nations.
Work on the Biological Threat Reduction Program will be carried out under the Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Armenia Concerning Cooperation in the Area of Counterproliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction that was signed in 2000 and the bilateral Biological Threat Reduction Program legal framework agreement that the governments of the United States and the Republic of Armenia will sign soon.
Before signing the agreement, U.S. and Armenian experts have begun to develop implementation plans for this cooperative endeavor.
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