GENEVA, 21 August 2007 — Saudi Arabia is keen to apply and activate the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction.
This was asserted by adviser at the Saudi Foreign Ministry Naif ibn Bandar Al-Sudairy, who is heading the Saudi delegation to the conference, here yesterday.
Al-Sudairy said in his speech that the Kingdom paid great attention to the accession to this convention and all international treaties that promote peace and stability in the world, adding that the Kingdom was keen on peaceful coexistence and cooperation for the benefit of mankind.
The conference began yesterday with the participation of 144 member states.
Al-Sudairy said: “Our meeting is being held today while the world is at an important and sensitive phase, which calls on the international community to exert concerted efforts to create a world of security and stability. From this standpoint, the Convention constituted undoubtedly one of the important elements for countering these sensitive situations.”
He also reviewed the Kingdom’s efforts in applying the International Convention to prevent the use of biological weapons, saying that the Saudi government has worked to activate the Convention at the highest national level through the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
“The Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Commerce and Industry issued several regulations, instructions and decisions aimed at protecting the health and safety of humans, animals and plants; for example, the issuance of the Regulation of Implementation for Private Laboratories,” he added.
He said that the Kingdom’s efforts included the Ministry of Health which supports the implementation of the Convention on the prohibition, usage and proliferation of biological weapons.
He also mentioned the efforts of the United Nations and other organizations in concluding conventions for maintaining international peace and security.
