Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s greetings to organisers and participants of the 5th International Conference, Global Threats to Biological Security: Problems and Solutions

I warmly welcome the organisers and participants of the 5th International Scientific and Practical Conference, Global Threats to Biological Security: Problems and Solutions.

Your conferences have established themselves as an authoritative platform in the field of biological security. The key to their success lies in the participation of highly professional experts from the World Majority countries and representatives of relevant international and non-governmental organisations.

You focus specifically on the issues raised by the Convention on the Prohibition of Biological and Toxin Weapons. This year marks the 50th anniversary of its entry into force. Russia, as the depositary state of the BTWC, considers the Convention an important element of the global security architecture. We have put forward a number of initiatives aimed at strengthening it.

We stand ready to expand specific international cooperation in biosafety. To this end, we are expanding the dialogue in the format of bilateral interdepartmental consultations with the stakeholder countries. We also attach great importance to cooperation within various regional associations.

I am confident that this time, too, your discussions will be constructive. I wish you every success in your work and all the best.

SERGEY LAVROV