New York:
India pleaded with the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) and said it is important to ensure it is implemented in letter and spirit.
India took note of the comments of the UN Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu regarding biological activities related to Ukraine and said that “India attaches great importance to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) as an important global and non-discriminatory disarmament treaty, which bans an entire category of weapons of mass destruction.”
R Ravindra, Deputy Permanent Representative to the UNSC briefing, said: “It is important to ensure full and effective implementation of the BTWC, in the letter and spirit of the treaty and through consultation and cooperation between the parties involved.”
India expressed concern at the ongoing situation in Ukraine and added that it welcomes the latest round of diplomatic talks between the Russian Federation and Ukraine.
“As outlined yesterday, India remains deeply concerned about the deteriorating situation in Ukraine. We welcome the latest round of diplomatic talks between the Russian Federation and Ukraine,” the Indian diplomat said.
India reiterated the need for dialogue and diplomacy. India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, TS Tirumurti, said: “We believe that the only way forward is an immediate cessation of hostilities and diligently following the path of dialogue and diplomacy.”
“We must make this commitment, bearing in mind the need to respect the principles of the UN Charter, international law and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states,” he added.
Russia had launched a special military operation in Ukraine on February 24 in response to calls from the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics for protection against intensification of attacks by Ukrainian forces.
The Russian Defense Ministry said the special operation only targeted Ukrainian military infrastructure and that the civilian population was not at risk. Moscow has repeatedly said it has no plans to occupy Ukraine. Western countries have imposed numerous sanctions on Russia.
Earlier in March, the Russian Defense Ministry revealed new findings after analyzing documents obtained from experts at Ukrainian laboratories.
Igor Kirillov, the chief of radiation, chemical and biological defense for the Russian armed forces, said the Pentagon has created a network of more than 30 biological laboratories on Ukrainian territory.
According to Kirillov, after the start of Russia’s special military operation, the United States has removed all materials necessary for further research from Ukraine. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow could initiate a consultation mechanism under the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) to discuss Washington’s non-compliance with the document.
However, a US Department of Defense official denied the allegations, saying the United States is not helping Ukraine with biological weapons in its war with Russia and there is no evidence that Ukraine is using biological weapons.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by DailyExpertNews staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.)