Armenian govt approves pathogen transfer agreement with U.S

YEREVAN. Dec 1 (Interfax) - The Armenian government approved on Thursday an edited text of the Armenian-U.S. Agreement Concerning Cooperation in the Area of Prevention of Proliferation of Technology, Pathogens and Expertise that Could be Used in the Development of Biological Weapons, which was signed in 2010.

The document allows Armenia to transfer samples of dangerous biological pathogens, collected on Armenian territory, to the United States for preventive, military and peaceful purposes at its own discretion.

The agreement has not been ratified due to mandatory requirements, including a provision that compelled Armenia to transfer samples of dangerous pathogens to the United States.

The new text of the document, signed on September 30, 2022, amends the provision and renounces the mandatory nature of the transfers. Armenia can now share information at its own discretion and only in regard to infectious agents, various viruses and diseases.