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22 May 2003
Egyptian biologist Dr. Wajdi Abd-al-Fattah
Sawahil, professor of micro-genetic engineering in Cairo, claims that Israel
uses Palestinian detainees as guinea pigs in BW research and is "producing new
types of diseases, viruses, bacteria, and some genetically modified substances
that specifically attack body cells contain a Palestinian hereditary substance."
--Jamal al-Majaydah, "Egyptian Scientist: Israel produces viruses that
attack Palestinians only," FBIS document GMP20030522000144, 22 May 2003,
<http://www.fbis.gov>.
July 2003
Suspicious white
substances, thought to possibly be anthrax, are repeatedly found in U.S. Embassy
buildings in Cairo and Alexandria. Buildings were evacuated to allow samples to
be taken for testing and for decontamination to take place. It is unclear how
the substance entered the building, but suspicions center on the locally
provided security forces, who currently guard the external entrances.
--Jamal Shahin, "US Embassy considers stationing Marine guards on the
streets of Cairo," FBIS document GMP20030707000224, 3 July 2003,
<http://www.fbis.gov>.
8 October 2003
The U.S. General
Accounting Office (GAO) reports that the Pentagon is selling surplus biological
protective suits and laboratory equipment that could be used to manufacture
biological weapons on the Internet at bargain prices. Several of these items
have been resold to Egypt, the Philippines, and the United Arab Emirates among
others.
--"Equipment sold by Pentagon could be used for bioweapons
production," Agence France Presse, 8 October 2003,
<http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
16 October 2003
Speaking in
Putrajaya, Malaysia, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher describes impending
U.S. moves to apply sanctions on Syria as inappropriate and unjustifiable. The
United States is considering sanctions against Syria "for its alleged ties to
terrorist groups and purported efforts to obtain nuclear, biological and
chemical weapons."
--"Egypt denounces US moves to sanction Syria," Agence
France Presse, 16 October 2003, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
12
December 2003
The Jerusalem Post carries a major report on Egypt's
military build-up. It notes that Egypt's stocks of chemical and biological
weapons, and advanced ballistic missile capability remain a large threat to
Israel. The report goes on to say that Egypt's biological arsenal includes
advanced strains of toxins, and bacterial and viral agents and that Egypt has
varied means of dispersing these weapons, including artillery shells, aerial
bombs, and advanced ballistic missile systems.
--Caroline B. Glick, "A grave
and gathering threat," Jerusalem Post, 12 December 2003, p. 1.
20 December 2003
Ahmad Abu-Zayd, Chairman of Egypt's
People's Assembly Arab Affairs Committee, urges Israel and all Mideast countries
to follow Libya's example and dismantle their WMD programs.
--"Egyptian
official urges Israel to dismantle nuclear, chemical Weapons," BBC Monitoring,
20 December 2003, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.
7 June
2004
The United Kingdom releases its annual report on the application of
strategic export controls in 2003. The report notes the legitimate export of a
variety of restricted items to Egypt; "civil NBC protection clothing, NBC
respirators, NBC clothing, [and] NBC filters."
--United Kingdom Strategic
Export Controls, Annual Report 2003 (June 2004), pp. 123,
<http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/
kfile/Full_Report_03.pdf>.
19-30
July 2004
As part of the preparations for the Second Meeting of the
States Parties to the BWC which is to be held in Geneva in December 2004 a
Meeting of Experts is convened in Geneva. Although Egypt has not ratified the
treaty, an Egyptian delegation attends the meeting.
--The CBW Conventions
Bulletin, No. 65 (September 2004), p. 13.
28 January
2005
The United Kingdom releases its third quarterly report on Strategic
Export Controls, covering the period 1 July to 30 September 2004. The report
notes the issuing of licenses for the export to Egypt of "NBC respirators,
components for NBC respirators, NBC clothing, NBC decontamination equipment,
[and] civil NBC protection clothing."
--Strategic Export Controls:
Quarterly Report - July to September 2004, (January 2005), p. 36,
<http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/
strategicexportcontrolsjulsep2004.pdf>.
17 March 2006
As part of its submission to the UN 1540
Committee providing comments on the matrix prepared by the Committee summarizing Egypt's October 2004 report to the 1540 Committee Egypt includes a statement on its position regarding the CWC. "While fully supportive of the objectives of the [Chemical Weapons] Convention, Egypt has not joined its membership due to the significant imbalance of commitments taken by regional States. This political linkage has absolutely no other motivations and represent no objection against the Convention itself. The same position applies to the Biological Weapons Convention."
--Annex to the note verbale dated
17 March 2006 from the Permanent Mission of Egypt to the United Nations
addressed to the Chairman of the Committee Comments on the matrix prepared by
the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004)
summarizing Egypt's October 2004 report (March 2006), UN Document
S/AC.44/2004/(02)/88/Add.1, 20 March 2006.
26 to 28 April
2006
The Preparatory Committee for the Sixth Review Conference meets in
Geneva from 26 to 28 April 2006. A representative of Egypt, a State Signatory of
the Convention, attends the meeting and in line with the meeting rules
participates in discussions without the right to take part in the making of
decisions.
--Report of the Preparatory Committee to the Review Conference
BWC/CONF.VI/PC/2, 3 May 2006, p. 2,
<http://www.opbw.org/rev_cons/
6rc/docs/pc/BWC_Conf.VI_PC2_E.pdf>.
20
November 2006
In the course of responding to questions from the press at
the Sixth Review Conference of the Convention on Biological Weapons (BWC) the
United States Assistant Secretary for International Security and
Nonproliferation, Mr. John C. Rood observes that: "Egypt is another state
which sits outside the treaty. I think in the area of universality with only 155
countries party, there is room for significant growth and we do think that an
Action Plan with significant milestones, actual activities, directed activities
to achieve universality, is important. Again, in the Chemical Weapons Convention
context, that's been successful in raising the membership of the CWC.
We'd like to see that success emulated in the Biological Weapons
Convention context."
In subsequent reporting on the U.S. State
Department's USINFO website Mr. Rood's remarks are characterized in
a way that emphasizes the importance of his mention of Egypt. "Rood, at a
later press conference, singled out Egypt as another country that stands
outside the treaty framework. With 155 members of the BWC, he said, "there is
room for significant growth."
--"Remarks to the Press at the
Sixth Review Conference of the States Parties to the Biological Weapons
Convention: John C. Rood, Assistant Secretary for International Security and
Nonproliferation," 20 November 2006,
<http://www.state.gov/t/isn/rls/rm/76442.htm>; Jacqui Porth, "Nations
Need to Step Up Biological Weapons Treaty Enforcement," USINFO website, 20
November 2006,
<http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/
display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2006
&m=November&x=20061120171407SJhtrop0.4636499>.
21 November 2006
Speaking at the Sixth Review Conference of
the Convention on Biological Weapons (BWC) H.E. Ambassador Sameh Shoukry of
Egypt, a Signatory State, said that although Egypt had signed the Convention on
10 April 1972 and was committed to the humanitarian and moral objectives of the
BWC, Egypt was deeply troubled by certain deficiencies regarding the
implementation of the treaty as well as the continuing conditions in the Middle
East. He pointed out that Israel not only sits on an arsenal of nuclear weapons,
but has consistently refused to sign the Biological Weapons Convention, thereby
once again obstructing international efforts towards the elimination of the
threat of the proliferation of WMD. He concluded by urging the international
community to address this issue in an effective and practical manner so as to
achieve this objective universally and in a non-discriminatory manner.
--The CBW Conventions Bulletin, No. 74 (December 2006), p. 19.
20-24 August 2007
Three Egyptian government representatives
attend the Biological Weapons Convention Meeting of Experts in Geneva,
Switzerland. Egypt, a State Signatory of the Convention, attends the meeting and
in line with the meeting rules participates in discussions without the right to
take part in the making of decisions.
--List of Participants
BWC/MSP/2007/MX/INF 3, 24 August 2007, p. 29,
<http://www.opbw.org/new_process/
mx2007/bwc_mx07_INF.3_EN.pdf >.
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