Geneva - Cuba participated actively at the Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Biological Weapons, held at the UN headquarters in Geneva, where the country introduced several initiatives to strengthen that instrument, diplomatic sources said today.

According to a statement, the Cuban delegation contributed to identify legal measures necessary for the institutional strengthening of the Convention, which will be considered by a Meeting of Experts.

The most relevant result reached by the Non-Aligned Movement was the adoption of that Meeting of Experts, which should meet annually from 2018 to 2020 in order to analyze the necessary actions to reinforce the Convention on biological weapons, the text stated.

Cuba also considered it necessary to identify a dispute resolution mechanism within the scope of the Convention, referring to cases in which any State unjustifiably denies access to biological agents, materials, equipment and information for peaceful purposes.

This event creates obstacles for development of poorer countries in the fields of biotechnology, genetic engineering, microbiology and other related areas, the statement said.

Havana defended the importance of promoting free exchange or use of biological agents, materials, equipment and information for peaceful purposes.

The diplomatic note recalled that the negotiations to agree on a legally binding Protocol, which would have been an important legal measure to, among other aspects, provide for verification measures in compliance with the Convention, were unjustifiably interrupted by the United States since 2001.

This legal instrument on the prohibition of the development, production and stockpiling of bacteriological (biological) weapons and toxins took effect on March 26, 1975 and has 179 states parties.

Cuba has been party to the Convention since April 21, 1976 and strictly complies with all the obligations of this instrument, the diplomatic mission to the United Nations in Geneva recently said.