Fears over Russian pathogens
2005-11-13 21:03
Copenhagen - Deadly biological agents being stored at poorly guarded facilities in Russia are at risk of falling into the hands of terrorists, according to a report presented to Nato lawmakers Sunday.
Preventing terror groups from acquiring the pathogens is probably the main security challenge to the Euro-Atlantic community, said the report presented to the science committee of the Nato parliamentary assembly meeting in Copenhagen.
The report said the biological agents were being stored at former Soviet facilities that lack modern security and could easily be burglarised.
The facilities were not officially part of the Soviet biological weapons complex, but belonged to a clandestine weapons programme and are therefore ineligible for aid from Western governments, the report said.
Canadian general rapporteur, Pierre Claude Nolin, criticised the "paltry spending" on preventing the spread of such biological weapons.
- AP