PORTUGAL AGAINST PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO BIOLOGICAL

UNCLAS LISBON 000888 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/PRA, EUR/WE, ISN/CB E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MCAP PARM PO SUBJECT: PORTUGAL AGAINST PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION ¶1. (U) On April 2, Embassy Lisbon received a diplomatic note from the Portuguese Foreign Ministry, which outlined its thoughts about a proposed amendment to the biological weapons convention. An informal translation of the text follows and the original was faxed to EUR/PRA on April 5. ¶2. (U) Begin informal translation: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs present its highest compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America in its capacity as one of the Signatory States of the Convention on the Prohibition of Production and Development and Storage of Biological and Toxic Weapons and their Destruction ratified in London, Moscow, and Washington D.C. on April 10, ¶1972. The Sixth Conference to revise the above-mentioned Convention made note of a proposal to amend Article 1 of the Convention and its title. The amendment was introduced by the Islamic Republic of Iran in August 2006 with the purpose of including the term "use" in Article 1 and encouraging member-states to present their thoughts on the matter. The Islamic Republic of Iran presented this proposal for the first time in 1996. Portugal does not support the amendment to the Convention under consideration because it believes it unnecessary. Portugal reaffirms its commitment to the Final Declaration of the Sixth Examination Conference that, "The use, by member-states, whatever the form or circumstances, of microbiological agents, biologic or toxic, that are not consistent with the designed safeguards or preventative measures amount to a violation under Article 1." Complimentary closing. End Translation O'Neal