The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) should remain the only mechanism for considering issues with these types of weapons, according to the joint statement of several countries presented at the session of BWC member-states in Geneva. The statement was signed by Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Venezuela, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Cuba, Pakistan, Serbia and Tajikistan, and read to the session by director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Department on Non-Proliferation and Weapons Control Vladimir Yermakov.

"We underscore the inalienability and importance of a multilateral process in the BWC framework on the basis of its provisions," the document said. "It should be universal, inclusive, transparent and non-discriminatory. In order to support its [BWC's] authority, universal recognition and legitimacy, it is important to promote the BWC as the only multilateral forum for considering issies connected with biological weapons."

"We think that only the decisions made by member-states as a result of multilateral talks on the basis of consensus, can provide necessary guarantees of BWC observance by member-states and act as an effective deterrent tool hampering its non-observance, as well as use or threat of use of biological weapons," Yermakov said.

The session of BWC member-states was held in Geneva on December 4.