SOCHI, June 10. /TASS/. Russia views efforts by the US administration to tighten control over biological activities as a positive step, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said.
"We are considering the efforts of the current US administration on strengthening oversight over activities in the biological sphere as a step in the right direction. It demonstrates a certain adjustment of approaches to biosecurity issues," the senior diplomat said at the opening of the fifth Global Biosecurity Challenges. Problems and Solutions international conference.
According to Ryabkov, the signing of an executive order on improving the safety and security of biological research by US President Donald Trump on May 5, which provides for suspending state financing for certain types of activity with dangerous pathogens, including outside the US, essentially "shows Washington’s recognition of conducting such research in various parts of the world and in close proximity to Russian borders."
"We have been talking about this for many years. That said, the announced measures are not enough to eliminate Russia’s concerns and complaints regarding US military-biological activities abroad," Ryabkov emphasized.
