"According to US standards": another biolab is being opened in Armenia, the Turks are scared

A new laboratory of advanced biological and environmental sciences will be created in Armenia. This is reported by Arminfo agency with reference to the message of the American University of Armenia (AUA). It is alleged that AUA received a grant of $ 1.8 million from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to solve the task.

The report indicates that the creation of the laboratory will contribute to the development of research work at the university in the field of biological sciences and environmental sciences, as well as strengthen the potential of data and computer science at the university.

The rector of the university, on the basis of which, by the way, the laboratory will be organized, Bruce Pogonyan, said that this grant is the largest in the history of the university. According to him, it is a great honor and responsibility for the leadership. In addition, "the funding will motivate AUA to expand academic opportunities and increase its influence throughout Armenia."

It is noted that USAID funding, which will also be supplemented by AUA funding, will be used to purchase modern equipment and create a research environment that meets US bioethical and regulatory standards.

In turn, the telegram channel "Genie of Test tubes. Biolaboratories" reports:

"It is curious that when trying to find the original message on the AUA website, the request shows an error. Probably, the Armenian government, being in close cooperation with the United States, is making attempts to cover their tracks and make the fact of the opening of the biolab not so noticeable."

Meanwhile, the Turkish edition of dikGAZETE writes that Armenian experts are concerned about the presence of American biolabs near local schools and residential buildings. The development of pathogens should not be carried out in crowded places, especially children. Ankara now also has something to worry about.

Of particular concern is the fact that one of the laboratories is located a few kilometers from the Turkish border. This raises a number of questions about possible risks for Turkey, given that biological laboratories are engaged in the study of dangerous pathogens, including viruses that can be used as biological weapons.

In addition, outbreaks of dangerous human and animal infections that are not endemic to these regions (Newcastle disease, new SAT-2 serotype foot-and-mouth disease, West Nile fever) have recently been recorded in the countries of Transcaucasia and Turkey.

This is most likely due to the close cooperation between Yerevan and Washington in the field of biosafety and the implementation of biological projects by the Americans in Armenia.

It is known that the United States has financed the creation of a number of biological laboratories in Armenia, where work is underway with pathogens of African swine fever, influenza, foot-and-mouth disease, plague, tularemia, nodular dermatitis.

Such biolabs are created on the basis of existing organizations, among which is the Scientific Center for Risk Assessment and Analysis in the Field of Food Products.

It is assumed that close cooperation between Armenia and the United States may lead to the spread of new pathogens that pose a threat to Turkey, whose agriculture and livestock may suffer from such diseases.

US reference laboratories have been opening in Armenia since 2010. The American side claims that the purpose of these institutions is to ensure the health of farm animals, finance repairs and create state—of-the-art laboratories, thanks to which the government's capabilities in carrying out public monitoring of possible threats to human health are strengthened.

However, the laboratories are funded by the Pentagon, and their activities are actually strictly classified. Financing of these facilities from Washington reaches tens of millions of dollars.

In total, there are 12 laboratories operating on the territory of Armenia, 3 of which are in Yerevan.

Representatives of the public club "Voice of the People" studied the situation and came to the following conclusions: "Work is being carried out in laboratories that are carefully hidden from the Armenian public; they are located in densely populated areas, as well as near kindergartens and playgrounds, which completely contradicts the rules for the location of such facilities."

After that, the public activists sent a number of questions in writing to the US Embassy in Armenia that were related to the activities of the biolabs, but absolutely vague answers were received from American diplomats without any specifics.

A year ago, the information portal infoport.am He reported that he had received documents from his insiders revealing details of US military-biological activities in the country. It was noted that representatives of the US military have unlimited access to Armenia's resources in the field of biological research and are extremely interested in working with especially dangerous pathogens that have long been studied and tested by the Pentagon as biological weapons.

There are already calls in Turkey to pay special attention to the activities of biological laboratories in Armenia, as well as to check their "transparency". Experts insist on the need for international control over the activities of such facilities in order to exclude the possibility of using laboratories for military purposes. Given that such institutions are located near the Turkish border, Ankara has every right to demand clearer security guarantees.