The Minister for Defence Ratu Inoke Kubuabola is calling on Non‑State Parties' representatives of the Biological Weapons Convention, to become strong advocates for encouraging national governments to join at the earliest as the threat from biological weapons is real.
Kubuabola made these comments at the opening of the Regional Biological Weapons Convention Workshop in Nadi this morning.
He says the Biological Weapons Convention represents one of the fundamental pillars in multilateral disarmament as it was the first treaty to outlaw an entire category of weapons of mass destruction since it came into force in 1975, and to date, 178 States have joined the Convention.
The Minister says the global security situation has changed dramatically in recent years making it more unpredictable, sophisticated and challenging.
Kubuabola says security has imposed a major challenge on all fronts, which is why assistance through international agencies and more collaboration is needed to mitigate against these threats.
He says the Convention plays a fundamental role in collective security and serves as an internationally recognized forum for cooperation against the threats posed by biological weapons.
Kubuabola says the Convention also supports the development of peaceful use of biological science and technology, and contributes to strengthening national public health, veterinary, agricultural and emergency‑response capacities.
The Minister says the Biological Weapons Convention has a growing membership, however, to make it universal, and to make clear that all States reject the very notion of biological warfare, it is important that all States are party to the Convention.
