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DATE=7/10/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-235269 TITLE=BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS (L ONLY) BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN DATELINE=GENEVA CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: NEGOTIATORS SAY THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONCLUDE TALKS THIS YEAR AIMED AT STRENGTHENING A BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS TREATY. LISA SCHLEIN IN GENEVA REPORTS POLITICAL DIFFERENCES AND CONCERNS ABOUT INDUSTRIAL ESPIONAGE ARE AMONG THE ISSUES BLOCKING PROGRESS. TEXT: A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS TREATY -- WHICH TOOK EFFECT IN 1972 -- IS THE FACT THERE IS NO WAY TO MAKE SURE A COUNTRY IS COMPLYING WITH THE AGREEMENT. THERE ARE NO EFFECTIVE MEANS TO DETECT AND PREVENT NATIONS FROM CHEATING. THE NEGOTIATIONS SAY THEY ARE STUCK ON DISAGREEMENTS ABOUT BASIC ISSUES SUCH AS WHAT TYPE OF INVESTIGATIONS SHOULD BE ALLOWED AND WHAT TYPE OF FACILITIES SHOULD BE CONTROLLED. THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CONFERENCE, TIBOR TOTH, SAYS VERIFICATION IS DIFFICULT BECAUSE SOME BIOLOGICAL AGENTS AND EQUIPMENT CAN BE USED BOTH FOR LEGITIMATE, PEACEFUL PURPOSES AND FOR PROHIBITED PURPOSES. HE SAYS VERIFICATION CAN WORK ONLY IF NATIONS ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT ALL ACTIVITIES IN THEIR RESEARCH FACILITIES. /// TOTH ACT /// SO THE APPROACH IS TO PROVIDE MORE TRANSPARENCY AND MORE GUARANTEES THROUGH DECLARATION MEASURES, THROUGH VISIT MEASURES, AND POSSIBLE INVESTIGATIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT IS GOING ON IN DIFFERENT FACILITIES IS REALLY FOR PEACEFUL PURPOSES. /// END ACT /// ANOTHER MAJOR STICKING POINT IS THE FEAR OF INDUSTRIAL ESPIONAGE. INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES ARE AFRAID THAT INTERNATIONAL INSPECTION TEAMS MIGHT BE USED TO STEAL SECRETS IN THE BOOMING BIOTECH INDUSTRY. TO EASE THESE FEARS, GERMAN AMBASSADOR GUNTHER SEIBERT SAYS THE TREATY WILL HAVE A SECTION ON THE PROTECTION OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. HE SAYS INSPECTORS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO BE UNOBTRUSIVE AND TO ASK ONLY FOR INFORMATION WHICH IS REALLY NECESSARY FOR COMPLIANCE. /// SEIBERT ACT /// BUT OF COURSE, ON THE OTHER HAND, WE NEED TO PROVIDE REASONABLE ASSURANCE IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE COMPLIANCE WITH THE TREATY AND TO DETER WOULD-BE PROLIFERATORS. /// END ACT /// THE UNITED NATIONS SAYS THERE ARE ABOUT THREE-THOUSAND BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH FACILITIES AROUND THE WORLD. ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF THESE ARE IN THE UNITED STATES. (SIGNED) NEB/LS/JWH 10-Jul-98 11:41 AM EDT (1541 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .