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Updated August 2008
Biological Chronology
2000-2001
Except for general knowledge items, this annotated chronology is based on the data provided by the source identified for each entry. Public sources often provide conflicting information on classified military programs. In some cases we are unable to resolve these discrepancies, in others we have deliberately refrained from doing so to highlight the potential influence of false or misleading information as it appeared at the time. In many cases, we are unable to independently verify claims. Hence in reviewing this chronology, readers should take into account the credibility of the sources employed here.
Inclusion in this chronology does not necessarily indicate that a particular development is of direct or indirect proliferation significance. Thus, some entries provide international or domestic context for technological development and national policymaking, while others report on happenings that may have indirect effects on proliferation or nonproliferation.
2000
A restructuring of Cuba's pharmaceutical industry begins, as Cuba attempts to meet the growing demands of its domestic drug market. The Medical-Pharmaceutical Industry is placed under the Chemical Union in the Ministry of Basic Industry, instead of the Ministry of Health.
— Patricia Grogg, "Pharmaceutical industry poised for expansion," Inter Press Service, 10 June 2002.
2000
In a U.S. Department of State report, seven states are identified as sponsors of international terrorism, including Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Cuba, Sudan, and North Korea. The report notes that it was "alarming" that several of these states were believed to also have a BW capacity, although Cuba was not specifically mentioned in this regard.
— U.S. Department of State, Overview of State-Sponsored Terrorism, Patterns of Global Terrorism: 1999 Report, 2000, <http://www.state.gov/www/global/terrorism/1999report/sponsor.htm>.
23 May 2000
Kenneth Alibek testifies before Congress that Moscow State University provided training to Cuban scientists in biotechnology, microbiology, and genetic engineering.
— "Prepared Testimony of Kenneth Alibek before the House Armed Services Committee Oversight Panel on Terrorism," Federal News Service, 23 May 2000.
17 July 2000
A vaccine against infectious equine encephalomyelitis, a joint project between Laboratorios Biologicos Farmaceuticos (Labiofam) in Cuba and a Chinese laboratory, is currently in the late research phase. When completed, Cuba will be the only country besides China to produce this vaccine.
— Radio Rebelde, Havana, BBC Worldwide Monitoring, 17 July 2000.
5 September 2000
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, on a trip to Havana, expresses his interest in creating a joint Belarusian-Cuban enterprise to produce vaccines in Belarus.
— Nikolai Palagichev, "Belarusian president visiting Cuba," Itar-Tass News Agency, 5 September 2000.
13 September 2000
Following a visit to the Frank Pais Orthopedic Hospital, Yemeni president Ali Abdallah Salih signs an agreement between Cuba and Yemen for cooperation in the health sector, including the prevention of hepatitis B in Yemen. Note is made that there already 42 Cuban doctors work in Yemen, along with nine Cuban engineers.
— Elson Concepcion Perez, Granma International Online Edition, "Cuba, Yemen sign health cooperation agreement," 14 September 2000, <http://www.granma.cu/ingles/index.html>.
30 September 2000
Iranian president Mohammad Khatami visits Cuba. While addressing scientists at CIGB, he states that, "imperialist powers could not monopolize knowledge and technology."
— "Cuban president to visit Iran this year," Agence France Presse, 7 February 2001; "Cuba in the Middle East: 2000-2002," An Information Service of the Cuba Transition Project, Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies, University of Miami, Issue 30, 14 November 2002, <http://ctp.iccas.miami.edu>.
4 October 2000
Dr. Gustavo Sierra, vice-president and research director of the Finlay Institute, announces that Cuba and India can begin joint biotechnology projects based on previous vaccine cooperation between the two countries.
— M. Somasekhar, "Cuba proposes joint R&D for vaccines," Financial Times Information, 5 October 2000.
December 2000
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin visits Cuba for the first time and signs accords that aim to improve relations between Cuba and Russia.
22 December 2000
It is claimed that Cuban scientists have for the first time produced a set of reagents for the laboratory diagnosis of cholera. The set was invented at the Microbiology Laboratory at the Norte Children's Hospital and include a new strain of Vibrio cholerae 0139 and "'new' bacteria that causes the illness."
— Prensa Latina, Havana, "Cuba produces reagents to diagnose cholera," BBC Worldwide Monitoring, 27 December 2000.
7 February 2001
Seyyed D. Salehi, Iranian Ambassador to Cuba, reveals that Cuba is cooperating with Iran in the establishment of an Iranian biotechnology center, and officials from the Iranian Health Ministry are visiting Cuba to solidify plans.
— Prensa Latina News Agency, Havana, "Cuba: Iranian envoy views biotechnology, agriculture, pharmacology cooperation," BBC Worldwide Monitoring, 9 February 2001.
18 March 2001
Fidel Castro announces that Cuba is interested in helping South Africa and Brazil produce inexpensive AIDS drugs by ignoring U.S. patents.
— "Cuba wants to help South Africa, Brazil make cheaper AIDS drugs," Agence France Presse, 19 March 2001.
31 March 2001
Iranian parliamentarians visit Cuba in order to further strengthen cooperation in biotechnology between the two countries, which has been one of Castro's priorities for at least six years.
— Tehran IRNA, "Cuba, Iran to expand cooperation in biotechnology," 31 March 2001.
2 May 2001
Heberkinasa, the commercial name for CIGB's recombinant streptokinase, is now being marketed packaged in a new 1.5 million IU ampule, as compared with the current packaging in 500,000 and 700,000 IU ampules. This allows doctors to use one dose to dissolve blood clots, instead of the earlier three or four doses. Heberkinasa is the only recombinant streptokinase produced using recombinant DNA techniques, and is registered in European, Latin American, Asian, and African countries.
— Lilliam Riera, "Heberkinasa in a new concentration," Granma International Online Edition, 2 May 2002, <http://www.granma.cu/ingles/index.html>.
5-17 May 2001
Fidel Castro visits Algeria, Iran, Malaysia, Qatar, Syria, and Libya. The major reason for these visits is to strengthen both political and economic ties between the Middle East and Cuba.
— "Cuba in the Middle East: 2000-2002," An Information Service of the Cuba Transition Project, Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies, University of Miami, Issue 30, 14 November 2002, <http://ctp.iccas.miami.edu>.
10 May 2001
At a press conference in Tehran, Fidel Castro is quoted as stating, "Iran and Cuba, in cooperation with each other, can bring America to its knees. The US regime is very weak, and we are witnessing this weakness from close up." Further, Castro told journalists before leaving Tehran that he was "totally reassured about Iran. There is great hope for the future of relations between Cuba and Iran. I am leaving with many unforgettable memories."
— Agence France Presse Staff, "Iran and Cuba bolster ties, strengthen anti-US solidarity," Agence France Presse, 9 May 2001, <http://www.hermanos.org/docs/afp022802.htm>.
10 May 2001
Fidel Castro meets with Cuban and Iranian scientists currently working on a joint biotechnology project to produce medications, including the Cuban hepatitis B vaccine. A laboratory is under construction that will house joint Iranian-Cuba projects. It is being built at a cost of $600 million and is scheduled to open in 2002
— "Iran-Cuba (scheduled) stalled medicine factory is US's fault, Iranian tells Castro," Financial Times Information, 9 May 2001
15 June 2001
The Cuban Ministry of Science, Technology, and the Environment and the Chinese Academy of Engineering sign an agreement for technology exchange in areas such as vaccine research, molecular immunology, and industrialization.
— Prensa Latina News Agency, "Science Ministry signs an agreement with China's Academy of Engineering," BBC Worldwide Monitoring, 16 June 2001.
17 August 2001
Cuban officials allege that the current bee parasite [varroa mite] epidemic may be a result of biological warfare. The U.S. government declines to respond to the allegation.
— "Bee parasite may be biological warfare," Agence France Presse, 17 August 2001; Gersh Kuntzman, “American beat: Bad bee-havior?” Newsweek, 27 August 2001, <http://www.newsweek.com/id/76650/>.
October 2001
Jose de la Fuente, former director of research and development for CIGB, states that following the collapse of the Soviet Union, biotechnology research centers slowly came under the control of the Secretary of the State Council, which is directed by Castro. De la Fuente is concerned about the sale of CIGB's products to Iran, as he believes that Iran is not interested in vaccines, but rather in Cuban dual-use technology.
— Jose de la Fuente, "Wine into vinegar-the fall of Cuba's biotechnology," Nature Biotechnology, 19(10):905-907, October 2001.
3 October 2001
Rosa Elena Simeon, Cuban Minister of Science, Technology, and the Environment, returns from a four-day visit to China, during which the two countries stressed their commitment to furthering cooperation in bioinformatics, seismology, and biotechnology. Simeon met with the president of the Academy of Engineers in China, touring "special areas of advanced technology development." Currently there are 38 joint projects between China and Cuba of a scientific or technical nature.
— "A new stage of scientific cooperation with China," Granma International Online Edition, 3 October 2001, <http://www.granma.cu/ingles/index.html>.
November 2001
Biological Pharmaceutical Laboratories (LABIOFAM) has produced an anti-Gumboro vaccine using recombinant DNA technology, which allows for a longer immune response than conventional vaccines. Gumboro is a viral disease that harms the immunological system of poultry, causing a high mortality rate. The vaccine offers protection against some of the more virulent strains of the pathogen.
— "Cuban anti-Gumboro vaccine could be marketed in 2002," Granma International Online Edition, 14 November 2001, <http://www.granma.cu/ingles/index.html>.
19 November 2001
Jose Rodriguez Duenes, director of the National Center on Biological Safety, announces that Cuba is in full compliance with all international conventions governing biological weapons and that no pathogens are being used for military purposes.
— Patricia Grogg, "Authorities deny misuse of biological agents," Inter Press Service, 19 November 2001.
19 November 2001
Cuban ambassador Carlos Amat Fores when addressing the Fifth Review Conference of the BWC states, "...the fight against bioterrorism could also only be successfully achieved by a multilateral approach to ensure that the necessary transparency and basis of confidence was present."
— “Press Release: Fifth Review Conference of the States Parties to the Biological Weapons Convention Continues General Debate," United Nations, 19 November 2001, <http://disarmament.un.org/wmd/bwc/fifth/bwc19Nova.pdf>.
28 November 2001
In preparation for the Fifth Review Conference of States Parties to the BWC, the BWC Secretariat prepares a document on nations’ compliance with the BWC. Cuba has participated in "information exchange" through confidence building measures (CBMs) since 1992, reporting on the activities of 13 institutions. Cuba has also classified biological agents and toxins affecting humans, animals, and plants into risk groups in accordance with decree-law No. 190 (1999). Cuba has promised to prepare for the regulation on the accounting of biological agents, teams, materials, and technology. The BWC Secretariat finds that Cuba has complied with the annual submission of all required paperwork on biological safety, along with outbreaks of diseases affecting humans, animals, and plants. Cuba encourages scientific publication in accordance with the CBMs. Cuba does not need to declare a past offensive BW program and it has not been undertaking defense biological weapons research.
— Secretariat of the Biological Weapons Convention, "Background document on compliance by States Parties with all their obligations under the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction," BWC/CONF.V/3/Add.7, 28 November 2001.
December 2001
The World Health Organization registers the hepatitis B vaccine that has been produced as a joint project by CIGB, BioCen, and CENPALAB.
— Joaquin Oramas, "BioCen: Ten years of advances," Granma International Online Edition, 25 February 2003, <http://www.granma.cu/ingles/index.html>.
December 2001
The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Verification and Compliance submits its report Adherence and Compliance with Arms Control and Nonproliferation Agreements and Commitments to Congress. It includes the statement: "FINDING. The United States believes that Cuba has at least a limited, developmental offensive biological warfare research and development effort. Such efforts are prohibited by the BWC."
— U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Verification and Compliance, Adherence to and Compliance with Arms Control and Nonproliferation Agreements and Commitments, December 2001, <http://www.state.gov/t/vci/rls/rpt/22322.htm>.
This
material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin Center for
Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and
does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been independently
verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, agents. Copyright © 2008
by MIIS.
