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Updated August 2008
Biological Chronology
2002-2003
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.
14 January 2002
Cuba begins a campaign to contain the worst outbreak of dengue fever since 1981. While 95 of 165 municipalities are affected, most cases are concentrated in Havana.
— "Cuba launches campaign on virus," Morning Star, 15 January 2002.
15 January 2002
At a meeting of the Cuba-Iran Intergovernmental Mixed Commission, a Cuban official reports that as a result of its cooperation with the CIGB, Iran soon could start producing the Cuban hepatitis B vaccine, along with interferon and recombinant streptokinase.
— Prensa Latina News Agency, "Iran, Cuba discuss cooperation in biotechnology, agriculture," Financial Times and BBC Worldwide Monitoring, 18 January 2002.
25 January 2002
India and Cuba announce efforts to strengthen bilateral trade and investment, including the construction of a plant to produce hepatitis B vaccine in Chandigarh, which is to be established as a joint enterprise between the CIGB and Panacea Biotec.
— "Cuba to strengthen trade ties with India," Financial Times, 25 January 2002.
1 February 2002
Reportedly, the West Havana scientific pole is comprised of 51 biotechnological research institutes that manufacture products ranging from pharmaceuticals to cosmetics. Pole institutions rely on the concept of "integration," as they attempt to coordinate research and development. Nevertheless, typically both research and production of products are done at one and the same site.
— Simon Reid-Henry, "Cuban biotech plans to build on past successes," Genetic Engineering News, 22(3), 1 February 2002.
19 March 2002
Carl Ford, U.S. Undersecretary of State for Intelligence and Research, while testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee states that the United States believes that Cuba has a limited offensive BW program and provides related technology to rogue states.
— "Statement by Carl W. Ford, Jr., Assistant Secretary for Intelligence and Research Before the Senate Committee on Foreign Hearing on Reducing the Threat of Chemical and Biological Weapons," 19 March 2002.
6 May 2002
U.S. Under Secretary of State John Bolton accuses Cuba of misusing its biotechnology capabilities. He states: “Here is what we now know: The United States believes that Cuba has at least a limited offensive biological warfare research and development effort. Cuba has provided dual-use biotechnology to other rogue states. We are concerned that such technology could support BW programs in those states. We call on Cuba to cease all BW-applicable cooperation with rogue states and to fully comply with all of its obligations under the Biological Weapons Convention.”
— John Bolton, "Beyond the Axis of Evil: Additional Threats from Weapons of Mass Destruction," Heritage Lectures 743, Heritage Foundation, 6 May 2002.
6 May 2002
Bush administration officials report that the United States believes that Cuba has been experimenting with anthrax bacteria and other deadly pathogens.
— Judith Miller, "Washington accuses Cuba of germ-warfare research," New York Times, 7 May 2002.
10 May 2002
In response to Bolton’s allegations of 6 May, Fidel Castro states that any scientist involved in such work would be subject to Article 10 of the Law Against Terrorist Acts, which states: "He who manufactures, provides, sells, transports, remits, introduces into the country, or has in his possession in any form or place chemical or biological agents or any other element from whose research, design, or combination may derive products of the nature described is subject to sanctions ranging 10 to 30 years of prison, life in prison, or the death sentence." He also states that "No one has ever presented a single shred of evidence that our homeland has conceived a program that develops nuclear, chemical or biological weapons. The doors of our institutions are open....Cuba has absolutely nothing to hide."
— Cubavision, "Castro refutes U.S. John Bolton's statements on biological warfare," 10 May 2002.
13 May 2002
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell comments on Bolton’s statement on Cuba and gives what can be considered the U.S. government’s definitive view on the subject: “As Under Secretary Bolton said recently, we do believe that Cuba has a biological offensive research capability. We didn't say that it actually had such weapons, but it has the capacity and the capability to conduct such research.”
— Colin Powell on-camera interview, U.S. Department of State, Gander, Newfoundland, 13 May 2002.
13 May 2002
An anonymous Bush administration official tells the Washington Post that Cuba has "a number of projects that are what could be dual-use things, but they're probably not....It's a question more of them exciting suspicions by not being open. I don't know of any tangible stuff that shows yes, they are making anthrax [or anything else]. There is stuff we don't know about."
— Kevin Sullivan, "Carter says he was told U.S. had no proof Cuba shared bioweapons technology," Washington Post, 14 May 2002.
13 May 2002
Jimmy Carter visits CIGB during a trip to Cuba. After a briefing with scientists at the center, Carter states that there is no connection between Cuba and Libya in the field of biotechnology, and the relationship with Iran is one of legitimate technology transfer.
— Jimmy Carter, "Comments at Cuban Biotech Center," Havana, Cuba, 13 May 2002.
14 May 2002
Both Fidel Castro and the Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs strongly deny the accusations made by Bolton.
— Cubavision, "Castro refutes U.S. John Bolton's statements on biological warfare," 10 May 2002; Radio Havana, “Cuban Foreign Ministry Welcomes Powell's Clarification on Bioterrorism Charges,” May 14, 2002, <http://www.radiohc.org/Distributions/Radio_Havana_English/.2002/2002_may/Radio_Havana_Cuba-14_May_2002>.
14 May 2002
Two U.S. reporters write about their tour of Cuba's CIGB and Finlay Institutes, observing that both are furbished with equipment imported from Europe, Japan, and Brazil, and both handle bacteria and viruses necessary for vaccine production, but that could also be used to develop biological weapons. Concepcion Campa is quoted as having stated that the Cuban biotechnology industry has very little cash, and therefore cannot afford to produce anything other than the medicines and vaccines for export. Fidel Castro is quoted as having invited any "neutral and impartial" inspector from any country to come and inspect Cuba's biotechnology institutes.
— Tim Padgett and Dolly Macarenas, "Inside Cuban 'bioterrorism': Time correspondents report on visits to two Cuban facilities cited by the U.S.," Time, 14 May 2002, <http://www.time.com>.
15 May 2002
Jose de la Fuente, the former director of research and development at the CIGB, states that no "bioterrorism products" were manufactured during his term at CIGB (de la Fuente defected in 1998); however, he continues, "Cuba sold Iran recombinant materials intended to be used to make a hepatitis vaccine, but the technology could also be used for bioterrorism."
— Michael Kranish, "Biotechnology; Incubating biotech Cuba becomes biotech hotbed," Boston Globe, 15 May 2002.
16 May 2002
Otto Reich, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for the Western Hemisphere, announces that the Bush administration is considering asking Cuba to open its biotechnology research facilities to weapons inspectors.
— Richard Lapper and Richard Wolffe, "U.S. seeks to push Cuba on weapons inspectors," Financial Times, 16 May 2002.
22 May 2002
The Center for Defense Information reports that General Charles Wilhelm (ret.), former commander-in-chief of the U.S. Southern Command, told National Public Radio, "During my three-year tenure, from September 1997 until September 2000 at Southern Command, I didn't receive a single report or a single piece of evidence that would have led me to the conclusion that Cuba was in fact developing, producing or weaponizing biological or chemical agents."
— Ben Friedman, "Cuba: Bioweapons threat or political punching bag?" Center for Defense Information, 22 May 2002, <http://www.cdi.org>.
28 May 2002
Nelson P. Valdes, a professor of sociology at the University of New Mexico, writes that Fidel Castro did not say the words attributed to him in Tehran on 9 May. He continues, "I have secured all the transcripts of all the public statements made by the Cuban leader while visiting Iran, and there is nothing that mildly resembles the alleged quote." Valdes found that, "neither the Iranian News Service (IRNA), nor the Cuban media carried the alleged Castro statement. Nor could it be found in files of the BBC Monitoring Service or the U.S. government's Foreign Broadcasts Information Service."
— Nelson P. Valdes, "The problems of an Under Secretary of State: Fidel Castro, bioterrorism, and the elusive quote," Counterpunch, 28 May 2002.
30 May 2002
Cuban ambassador Jorge Ivan Mora Godoy while addressing the UN Conference on Disarmament states that Cuban biotechnology products are available in over 40 countries, and "all transfers were governed by a bilateral agreement that established the use of the technologies only for peaceful purposes."
— "Cuba Accuses United States of Lying About Cuba Preparing Biological Weapons, Urges World to Impede 'Hegemonic Power'," UN document DC416, 30 May 2002, <http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2002/DCF416.doc.htm>.
5 June 2002
Carl Ford, U.S. Assistant Secretary for Intelligence and Research at the States Department, testifies before a subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He continues to support John Bolton’s 6 May statement regarding Cuba, but acknowledges that none of the sources used by U.S. intelligence when it drafted these statements had any direct evidence of a Cuban BW program. Ford also raises the question of Cuba's relationship with terrorist groups and "rogue states," but acknowledges that the United States has no concrete evidence that Cuba has supplied these groups with biological weapons. However, he believes that Cuba has been exporting dual-use technology to states more capable of converting resources into a viable BW program.
— "Cuba's Pursuit of Biological Weapons: Fact or Fiction?" Hearing of the Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps, and Narcotics Affairs Subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, 5 June 2002.
16 June 2002
Jose Morales, who is leading Cuba's effort to clone a cow, states that the cow-cloning project is a priority for Fidel Castro, and Cuban scientists are "very, very close" to developing such an animal. However, scientists are still unable to reproduce Ubre Blanca, the famed cow of the 1980s, in order to increase Cuban milk production. The scientists, according to Carlos Borroto, are opposed to human cloning, and will focus strictly on animals.
— "The Cubans are cloning, and a super cow may be next," Wall Street Journal, 16 June 2002.
7 July 2002
Reportedly, the genetically engineered protein erythropoietin is Cuba’s "best-selling biotechnology drug," but it is sold only in countries that do not recognize U.S. or European patents. Cuba is currently negotiating new biotechnology trade and transfer agreements with 10 countries, including Brazil, Malaysia, Vietnam, and the Ukraine, and already engages in trade or negotiations with 14 others, including India, Algeria, and South Africa.
— Anita Snow and Paul Elias, "Cuba looks overseas to market biotech drugs," Associated Press, 7 July 2002.
19 July 2002
The Pedro Kouri Institute, in collaboration with the CIGB and the Finlay Institute, reportedly is making progress on research of a vaccine against dengue fever. The three are utilizing genetic engineering in their endeavor to develop the vaccine.
— Patricia Grogg, "Cuba makes progress toward dengue vaccine," Inter Press Service, 19 July 2002.
23 July 2002
A new hepatitis C vaccine is being researched at the CIGB.
— Radio Rebelde, Havana, 23 July 2002; BBC Worldwide Monitoring, 23 July 2002.
24 July 2002
In talks between Cuba and Ghana to renew their trade ties, Cuba also promises to send additional doctors and scientists to Ghana; to assist Ghana in being able to produce the hepatitis B vaccine; and to provide assistance to eradicate various other diseases.
— "Ghana to get more Cuban doctors," Deutsche Presse-Agentur, 24 July 2002.
23 August 2002
Granma Internacional publishes a story on the West Nile virus, and states that Cuba is willing to provide assistance to the United States in combating the outbreak.
— “Cuba offers to help U.S. contain West Nile virus,” Reuters, 24 August 2002, <http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/738577/posts>.
26 August 2002
Panacea Biotec in Punjab, India, establishes a joint venture with the CIGB that will lead to the commercial production of the hepatitis B vaccine in India.
— "Panacea to start bulk production of hep B vaccine (RS40-CRORE plant to have a capacity to produce 80 million doses per annum)," Financial Times Information, 26 August 2002.
26 September 2002
The first major Sino-Cuban biotechnology cooperative project begins, as officials lay the groundwork for a new pharmaceutical plant in China—the Baitai Biopharmaceutical Corporation. This project is a joint effort between the Center of International Science in China and the Center for Molecular Immunology in Cuba, and is budgeted at 120 million yuan. Once the plant is completed in 2004, the Baitai Corporation will focus on developing genetically engineered drugs for cancer treatment.
— Gao Pei, "First Sino-Cuban biotechnology joint venture lays foundation for its plant in Beijing," Xinhua Domestic Service, Beijing, 26 September 2002.
October 2002
Heber Biotec, the marketing arm of CIGB, is joining with Bioven Holdings of Malaysia to begin joint vaccine research in Malaysia. Bioven is also looking to form relationships with other Cuban research facilities in the future.
— "Bioven, Cuban firm in biotech joint venture," Financial Times, 2 October 2002; "Bioven in Cuban talks," Pharma Marketletter, 14 October 2002.
October 2002
Bruce Blair from the Center for Defense Information in Washington, DC is invited to tour nine Cuban biotechnology research facilities, along with a group of security, tropical disease, and other experts. After finishing the tours, Blair reports that all facilities appear to be engaged in legitimate medical and pharmaceutical research.
— "Bioterrorism Watch: Events since September 11, 2001," Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, University of Minnesota, 12 March 2003, <http://www.cidrap.umn.edu>.
1 October 2002
Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Cuba to the United Nations, during a debate on the Ad Hoc Group that is working to develop a verification protocol to the BWC states that Cuba “…restates the validity of the ad hoc expert group mandate, which has been negotiating the aforementioned protocol for more than six years, and calls on the United States to discontinue its insistent attempts...[to terminate] so many years of effort by the international community.”
— United Nations, “Statement by the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Cuba at the UN First Committee General Debate: September 30-November 1 October 2002. V. Chemical and Biological Weapons.” The Acronym Institute, <http://www.acronym.org.uk/un/2002fc5.htm>.
4 October 2002
Cuba and Tunisia agree to cooperate in the production of hepatitis B vaccine.
— Cubavision TV, Havana, 4 October 2002, BBC Worldwide Monitoring, 5 October 2002.
30 October 2002
During a visit to the CIGB by Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, CIGB director Luis Herrera Martinez claims that Cuba possesses over 210 scientific research centers staffed with over 12,000 scientists.
— Cubavision TV, 30 October 2002, BBC Worldwide Monitoring, 30 October 2002.
24-29 November 2002
The CIGB hosts the Biotechnology Havana 2002 Conference. The conference is focused on agro-biotechnology, addressing such topics as animal cloning, biotechnology in aquatic organisms, transgenesis in plants, functional genomics in plants, agro-bio products, plants as bioreactors, and probiotics and prebiotics.
— "Biotechnology Havana 2002: Agro-Biotech in the new millennium," EduToursToCuba.com, <http://edutourstocuba.com>, accessed through <http://www.cigb.edu.cu>.
24-29 November 2002
Carlos Borroto, deputy director of CIGB, while addressing the Biotechnology Havana 2002 Conference discusses Cuban agricultural biotechnology. In order to make plants more resistant to disease, research is being conducted in the transgenesis of plants at 15 biofactories. In addition to this research, the development of biopesticides, fertilizers, and veterinary vaccines is of high importance to Cuban agriculture.
— Margarita Torres and Carlos Borroto, "Report highlights the importance of biotechnology in Cuba's agricultural sector," Radio Rebelde, 25 November 2002.
5 December 2002
Carlos Borroto, deputy director of CIGB, states that due to concern over biosafety and bioethics, no genetically modified plants or animals have been applied in Cuba's agriculture. However, Borroto reports that projects are underway to produce "new-generation products," for example, veterinary vaccines, nutritional additives for fish, and "genetic improvement."
— "Scientist explains results of, plans for transgenic research in Cuba," Financial Times Information, 5 December 2002.
12 December 2002
Reportedly, monoclonal antibodies for use in cancer treatment are now in clinical tests, with one having already been registered in Cuba.
— "Immunology centre director highlights Cuba's development of cancer," Financial Times Information, 12 December 2002.
13 December 2002
CIGB is involved in research to make sugarcane more resistant to pests, while also looking to the sugar's genome to increase resistance to pesticides and disease.
— Paul Elias, "Cuba looks to genetic engineering to help save sugar crop," Miami Herald, 13 December 2002, <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CubaNews/message/13904>.
29 December 2002
A Cuban health expert reports that Cuban biotechnology products have been responsible for eradicating nine diseases, with the Cuban immunization program covering thirteen vaccines. Currently Cuba is conducting research on vaccines against dengue fever, AIDS, cancer, hepatitis C, cholera, and meningitis C.
— "Cuban health expert highlights success of country's biotechnology sector," Financial Times Information, 29 December 2002.
15 January 2003
CIGB opens a new plant to produce a more effective vaccine [sic] to combat ticks [sic] (GAVAC).
— Radio Rebelde, 15 January 2003, BBC Worldwide Monitoring, 16 January 2003.
23 January 2003
The Finlay Institute reports having developed a vaccine against typhoid, and is prepared to market it abroad.
— Radio Rebelde, 23 January 2003, BBC Worldwide Monitoring, 23 January 2003.
4 March 2003
The Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) in the U.S. assesses the Cuban Scientific and Technological Information Institute (IDICT) site for content and concludes that the Cuban government realizes the need for its scientists to have access to outside scholarship. The FBIS also reports that due to the detail of current Cuban research found on the site, its analysts are able to conclude that Cuban biotechnical research appears to be peaceful in nature.
— Cuban IDICT (Scientific and Technological Information Institute) Site, "Cuban science site touches on biotechnology, impact of tourism," 4 March 2003.
25 March 2003
Kazakh and Cuban officials meet to discuss cooperation in the biotechnology sector along with other areas of bilateral trade and exchange.
— Interfax-Kazakhstan, "Kazakh, Cuban officials discuss cooperation in biotechnology, petrochemistry," 25 March 2003.
17 April 2003
GlaxoSmithKline PLC, is conducting trials of the Cuban meningitis B vaccine in Europe and Latin America. If those trials are successful, the company plans to conduct further clinical trials in the United States.
— Chen May Yee, "Cutting-edge biotech in old-world Cuba," Christian Science Monitor, 17 April 2003, <http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0417/p14s03-stct.html>.
May 2003
The Center for Defense Information, a private research group based in Washington, D.C., has organized several visits to Cuba's biotechnology centers. In May 2003, one of these groups visited nine of them. The group's membership included a former commander of the U.S. Southern Command, former U.S. assistant secretaries of state and defense, and a leading infectious-disease specialist, as well as bioweapons policy experts and senior research scientists. In a report issued in May 2003, its members write that while the germ-warfare accusations are difficult to prove or disprove, they did not believe the Cuban government was supporting or concealing activities that contravene the BWC.
— Glenn Baker (editor), "Cuban Biotechnology: A First Hand Report," Center for Defense Information, May 2003, <http://www.uscubasecurity.org>; Tracey Eaton, "A shot in the arm?: Cuba's biotech industry raises hope, suspicion," Seattle Times, 28 November 2003, <http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2001802677_cubagerm19.html>.
16 May 2003
Cuba is manufacturing and distributing free "drug cocktails" of anti-retroviral drugs to HIV/AIDS patients. The Cuban enterprise NOVATEC Laboratories is the producer of these drugs.
— Lilliam Riera , "Cuba produces anti-retroviral medicine for AIDS patients," Granma International Online Edition, 16 May 2003, <http://www.granma.cu/ingles/index.html>.
4 June 2003
Fidel Ovidio Castro, head of the Cloning and Transgenics Department at the CIGB, states that Cuba's reason for cloning cows is to obtain milk that contains therapeutic proteins. He reiterates previous statements to the effect that Cuba has no interest in cloning humans.
— Lilliam Riera, "Cuban science is not working on human cloning," Granma International Online Edition, 4 June 2003, <http://www.granma.cu/ingles/index.html>.
24 June 2003
Christian Westermann, a chemical and biological weapons expert and an analyst in the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Intelligence and Research, states that “he had felt pressure from John Bolton, the under secretary of state for arms control and international security, that originally dated to a clash the two had over Mr. Bolton's public assertions last year that Cuba had a biological weapons program. Mr. Westermann argued those assertions were not supported by sufficient intelligence. Despite being pressured to alter his intelligence reports to conform with the Bush administrations views, particularly in regards to intelligence on Cuba, he never did so.
— James Risen and Douglas Jehl "Expert Said to Tell Legislators He Was Pressed to Distort Some Evidence," New York Times, 24 June 2003, p. 11.
26 June 2003
Professor Noel González informs Granma International that "a group of specialists from Havana's Hermanos Ameijeiras Hospital plus scientists from the Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Center (CIGB) are working to produce a growth factor capable of developing blood vessels to strengthen those damaged by arteriosclerosis, thus aiding recovery from cardiac injury."
— Lilliam Riera, "Cuba to repair organs and tissue using gene injections," Granma International Online Edition, 26 June 2003, <http://www.granma.cu/ingles/index.html>.
15 July 2003
Indian biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies are contacting Cuban scientific institutes to discuss the possible licensing of biotechnology products that would be produced in India.
— Anil Urs, "Indian bio co's look to Cuban tech for growth," Economic Times, 15 July 2003, <http://www.ciponline.org>.
5 August 2003
Biologists from Vietnam's Municipal Department of Science, Technology and Environment and Cuba's Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology are meeting to discuss cooperative efforts for biotechnology research.
— "Vietnam and Cuba discuss biotechnology sector cooperation," Financial Times Information, 5 August 2004.
2 October 2003
The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee convenes a hearing on Challenges for U.S. Policy Toward Cuba. In response to a question, Assistant Secretary of State for the Western Hemisphere Roger Noriega asserts: "We continue ... to believe that Cuba has at least a limited, developmental, offensive biological weapons research and development effort and is providing dual-use biotechnology to other rogue states."
— CBW Conventions Bulletin, No. 62 (December 2003), p. 44.
6 October 2003
The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues a statement denouncing Roger Noriega's accusation that Cuba is pursuing a biological arms program. It states: "[Noriega] has lied shamelessly once again, trying to link Cuba to bio-terrorism." Further: "As before, Cuba is calling on the American Administration once more to demonstrate that it does not lie unashamedly or to present at least one proof that supports its mendacious accusations related to a developing program of biological weapons on the part of our country."
— CBW Conventions Bulletin, No. 62 (December 2003), p. 44.
3 November 2003
Reportedly, biotechnology has generated 200 Cuban patents in more than 50 countries and an additional 500 patent applications have been filed in several countries. Annual receipts from biotechnology products are estimated to be in the tens of millions of dollars.
— Joaquin Oramas, "Havana Trade Fair - U.S. companies take the Europeans' place this year," Granma International Online Edition, 3 November 2003, <http://www.granma.cu/ingles/index.html>.
10 December 2003
Carlos Borroto, Vice-Director of the CIGB, asserts that Cuba has not released any genetically-manipulated commercial products in the last 15 years because Cuban scientists are concerned that such products may be harmful to humans or environment.
— FOCAL, Chronicle on Cuba, December 2003, p. 3, <http://www.cubasource.org>.
22 December 2003
Malaysia's Bioven and the CIGB establish a new joint company, Heber Bioven, for the purpose of manufacturing Cuban biotechnology products in Malaysia for the Southeast Asian market.
— "Cuba Inc.'s capital investment overseas more welcome than Das Kapital," AFP, 22 December 2003, <http://www.cubanet.org>.
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.
