This annotated chronology is based on the data sources that follow each entry. Public sources often provide conflicting information on classified military programs. In some cases we are unable to resolve these discrepancies, in others we have deliberately refrained from doing so to highlight the potential influence of false or misleading information as it appeared over time. In many cases, we are unable to independently verify claims. Hence in reviewing this chronology, readers should take into account the credibility of the sources employed here.

Inclusion in this chronology does not necessarily indicate that a particular development is of direct or indirect proliferation significance. Some entries provide international or domestic context for technological development and national policymaking. Moreover, some entries may refer to developments with positive consequences for nonproliferation.

7 January 2004
An interdisciplinary team of Cuban scientists is researching an anti-HIV compound containing the antibiotic paromomycin, which targets the HIV-RNA-packaging region in HIV Type-1.
--"Chronicle on Cuba - January 2004: Domestic Affairs," Cuba Source, January 2004, <http://www.cubasource.org/publications/chronicles/coc200401da_e.asp>.

24 January 2004
Cuba researchers are developing a new generation of anti-cancer therapeutic agents that they hope to market in Europe by 2008. The Carlos J. Finlay Institute and the GlaxoSmithKline Corporation has entered into an agreement for the purpose of introducing these products into the Western market. Further, the Pedro Kouri Institute of Tropical Medicine (IPK) currently is working on a new cholera vaccine. It also is competing against Western companies to develop the first vaccine against AIDS.
--"Chronicle on Cuba - January 2004: Domestic Affairs," Cuba Source, January 2004, <http://www.cubasource.org/publications/chronicles/coc200401da_e.asp>; Tom Fawthrop, "Cuba ailing? Not its biotech industry," Straits Times, 25 January 2004 , <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

24 January 2004
The Cuban Ministry for Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation (MINVEC) annual report highlights its investments in China's biotechnology sector.
--"Chronicle on Cuba - January 2004: Domestic Affairs," Cuba Source, January 2004, <http://www.cubasource.org/publications/chronicles/coc200401da_e.asp>.

26 January 2004
Cimab S.A., which commercializes the Molecular Immunology Center's products, has several joint ventures, including in China and India.
--"Cuban Biotech Firm CIMAB S.A. Increases Exports," Havana Journal, 26 January 2004, <http://havanajournal.com/culture_comments/1300_0_3_0_C/>.

2 February 2004
Republican Larry Klayman, a U.S. Senate candidate in Florida, claims that the Cuban dictator, Fidel Castro, has biological weapons at his disposal.
--"Bio-weapons in Cuba?" Worldnet Daily website, 2 February 2004 <http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=36879>.

3 February 2004
Scientists from China and Cuba participate in a conference on biotechnological advances that begins today in Beijing. Topics for discussion include Cuba's projects to develop products to fight cancer and HIV/AIDS.
--"Chronicle on Cuba - February 2004: Economy," Cuba Source, February 2004, <http://www.cubasource.org/publications/chronicles/coc200402ec_e.asp>.

6 February 2004
At a China-Cuba conference on biotechnological advances in Beijing, China announces that it is interested in introducing certain techniques developed by Cuba into its public health system. Also, a joint enterprise between the two countries will manufacture and market in China the H-R3 humanized monoclonal antibody for the treatment of brain and neck tumors.
--Lilliam Riera, "China to manufacture Cuban anti-cancer medicament," Granma International, 6 February 2004, <http://granmai.cubaweb.com/ingles/2004/febrero/vier6/china.html>.

23 February 2004
Cuban research institutions and the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) have signed five agreements for carrying out collaborative biotechnology projects. One of them specifies that the USM and Cuba's International Center of Neurological Restoration will research stem cells and neural cells.
--Marina Emmanuel, "Cuba to help boost Malaysia biotech efforts," Business Times, 23 February 2004.

28 February 2004
The U.S. Treasury Department in several advisory letters since September 2004 is warning publishers not to edit material from a country under a trade embargo. These letters concerned Iran, but logically would extend to Cuba, Libya, and North Korea.
--"The crime of editing: US tells publishers not to touch a coma in manuscripts from Iran," New York Times, 28 February 2004.

2 March 2004
While visiting Cuba, Eshagh Yahanguiari, Iran's Minister of Industries and Mines, states that Iran is interested cooperating with Cuba in the medical and biotechnology fields.
--"Chronicle on Cuba - March 2004: Economy," Cuba Source, March 2004, <http://www.cubasource.org/publications/chronicles/coc200403ec_e.asp>.

7 March 2004
United States Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security John Bolton in a written statement to the House Committee on International Relations states that problems with intelligence reporting on Cuba's alleged WMD program were the fault of Ana Belen Montes, the Defense Intelligence Agency's senior Cuba analyst, who was convicted of spying for Cuba in 2002. David Isenberg, a British American Security Information Council WMD analyst, which describes itself as "a progressive and independent analysis and advocacy organization," tells the UPI that Bolton had little evidence to support his accusation.
--Krishnadev Calamur, "U.S. knew of Cuba bioweapons effort," Washington Times, 7 March 2004, <http://www.cubanet.org/CNews/y04/apr04/08e7.htm>.

15 March 2004
The Bangalore based Biocon Ltd. in cooperation with Cimab SA, a Cuban pharmaceutical firm, will contract a facility in Bangalore, India, to produce biotechnology products based on monoclonal antibodies.
--"Chronicle on Cuba - March 2004: Economy," Cuba Source, March 2004, <http://www.cubasource.org/publications/chronicles/coc200403ec_e.asp>.

29 March 2004
Cuban scientists publish approximately 35% of their scientific articles in important U.S. journals; 225 articles by Cubans were published in 2003. Recently the ability of Cuban scientists to publish in U.S. publications was severely restricted by the Bush administration. [see 28 Feb. 2004].
--Raisa Pages, "Cuba publishes 35% of its scientific articles in U.S. magazines," Granma International, 29 March 2004, <http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2004/marzo/lun29/13cenic-i.html>.

30 March 2004
Despite U.S. allegations that Cuba has biological weapons, Cuba's biotechnology industry is exporting vaccines and treatments for HIV/AIDS and cancer around the world.
--Ian Sample, "Cuban cocktails," The Guardian, 30 March 2004, <http://www.patentmatics.com/pub2004/pub5j.htm>.

31 March 2004
In testimony before the House International Relations Committee, United States Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security John Bolton reiterates many of the same allegations he raised in 2002 [see 6 May 2002] about Cuba's supposed bioweapons research and development program.
--Nancy San Martin, "Cuba a bioweapons 'threat,' U.S. says," Miami Herald, 31 March 2004, <http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/world/cuba/8316400.htm?1c>.

7 April 2004
The Cuban enterprise CIMAB Ltd. is selling its biotechnology products in 14 Latin American, Middle Eastern, and Asian countries. These products include anti-cancer vaccines and monoclonal antibodies. Cimab Ltd. also is pursuing joint pharmaceutical production ventures with China and India. Other Cuban enterprises are claimed to be negotiating 40 additional contracts with businesses in other countries.
--"Chronicle on Cuba - April 2004: Economy," Cuba Source, April 2004, <http://www.cubasource.org/publications/chronicles/coc200404ec_e.asp>.

10 May 2004
In Malaysia the Fatwa Council declares that the halal vaccine, which is used to prevent meningitis, must be devoid of any trace of porcine material. Currently, there is an inadequate supply of halal vaccine in Malaysia. The Chairman of Bioven Holdings Sdn Bhd, Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, states that the Cuban company Finlay-Heber-Bioven Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Bioven Holdings, has agreed to conduct a portion of the research in Cuba to develop the porcine-free vaccine and the rest of the work will be carried out by Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) experts.
--"M'sian Firm to Produce Halal Vaccine For Muslim Market," Malaysian National News Agency, 10 May 2004.

17 May 2004
Pham Gia Khiem, Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam, tells Dr. L.H. Martinez, General Director of the Cuban Genetics and Biotechnology Center, who is visiting in Hanoi, that Vietnam wants to enhance cooperation between their two countries in the fields of genetics and biotechnology.
--"Vietnam Seeks Cuban Bio-Tech Cooperation," Financial Times Information, 17 May 2004.

24 May 2004
An article in Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin reiterates its claim that Cuba is cooperating with Iraq's Saddam Hussein in an active chemical and biological weapons program. It also claims that the version of West Nile virus they released into the United States is a more lethal strain that can only be found in Israel. [see 11 August 2003]
--"Is West Nile virus Saddam's revenge? U.S. strain deadlier than elsewhere - except Israel," Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin, 24 May 2004, <http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=38623>.

30 May 2004
Cuba has "signed nearly 10 memoranda of understanding (MoU) with local universities in Malaysia to produce human vaccines and collaborated with Malaysian companies to produce 'halal' meningitis vaccines for pilgrims bound for Saudi Arabia to perform the Haj."
--"Cuba's Biotechnology Success a Showcase to the World," Malaysian National News Agency, 30 May 2004.

2 July 2004
A Congressional Research Service report states that the WMD threat from Cuba largely is based on its dual-use biotechnology capabilities. It further states that U.S. intelligence reports have mixed opinions on Cuba's suspected biological weapons program..
--Sharon Squassoni, "Globalizing Cooperative Threat Reduction: A Survey of Options," Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress, 2 July 2004, <http://www.fas.org/spp/starwars/crs/RL32359.pdf>.

23 July 2004
Cuban scientists describe the large scale synthesis, pharmaceutical development, and clinical evaluation of a conjugate vaccine composed of a synthetic capsular polysaccharide antigen of Haemophilus infuenzae Type b. The study demonstrates that it is feasible to develop synthetic based vaccines and provides a foundation for further development and research. If such a vaccine were to be developed, it may lead to the establishment of new synthetic vaccines industry in Cuba.
--V. Verez-Bencomo, V. Fernandez-Santana, Eugenio Hardy et al, "A synthetic conjugate polysaccharide vaccine against Haemophilus infuenzae Type b," Science, Vol. 305, 23 July 2004, pp 522-525; Jocelyn Kaiser, "Synthetic vaccine is a sweet victory for Cuban Science," Science, Vol. 305, 23 July 2004, pg 460.

18 September 2004
The Bush administration, using stricter standards in evaluating intelligence information is no longer certain that Cuba has a biological weapons program. However, the U.S. intelligence community "continues to believe that Cuba has the technical capability to pursue some aspects of an offensive biological weapons program."
--Steven R. Wiesman, "In Stricter Study, U.S. Scales Back Claim on Cuba Arms," New York Times, 18 September 2004, <http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/18/international/americas/18intel.html>; "US recants biological weapons claim," Latinnews Daily, 20 September 2004; Pablo Bachelet, "U.S. uncertain about a Cuba weapons program," Miami Herald, 21 September 2004, <http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/world/cuba/9717414.htm?1c>.

8 October 2004
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell is quoted saying; "[Fidel Castro] is not the kind of threat he was [to the U.S.] when he had the Soviet Union backing him.''
--Warren P. Strobel, "Castro still a problem, Powell says," Miami Herald, 8 October 2004, <http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/world/cuba/9864385.htm>.

10 November 2004
The Center for Defense Information (CDI) has sponsored the visits to Cuba of three groups since 2002 to investigate allegations that the Cuban biotechnology sector is involved in a "biowarfare" effort. The most recent visit, in conjunction with the Center for International Policy, took place in October 2004. None of these visits has revealed evidence that would support these allegations. The Cuban government has shown itself to be very open about allowing these types of visits to scientific centers. The CDI did find that Cuba possessed an advanced vaccine and pharmaceutical industry that is performing research and development that is consistent with the nation's health care policy. However, the CDI says it is difficult to prove that Cuba is not pursuing a BW program. The CDI's 50 page report "Cuban Biotechnology: A First Hand Report," is posted at <http://www.uscubasecurity.org/content%20and%20cover.pdf>.
--Glenn Baker, "U.S.-Cuba Cooperative Security," Center for Defense Information, 10 November 2004, <http://www.cdi.org/friendlyversion/printversion.cfm?documentID=2617#_ftn2>; Tracey Eaton, "A shot in the arm?: Cuba's biotech industry raises hope, suspicion," Dallas Morning News, 28 November 2003, <http://havanajournal.com/culture_comments/1073_0_3_0_C/>.

15-16 November 2004
The PIR Center for Policy Studies in Russia, together with the Institute for International Relation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba (Instituto Superior de Relaciones Internacionales), is holding an international seminar during 15-16 November 2004 titled International Security, Weapons of Mass Destruction and Nonproliferation: Problems and Challenges. This is the first Russian-Cuban academic meeting since the beginning of the 1990s. The goals of the workshop include discussing the new challenges to the nonproliferation regimes and the balance between proliferation concerns and technology and scientific development. The workshop is organized around five consecutive sessions: 1) International Security at the Beginning of 21st Century; 2) The Arms Race, Disarmament and Development; 3) Weapons of Mass Destruction: Myths and Realities; 4) International Terrorism: Problems and Challenges; and 5) International Security, Disarmament and Nonproliferation: The UN Role.
--"International Security, Weapons of Mass Destruction and Nonproliferation: Problems and Challenges," PIR Center, 15-16 November 2004, <http://www.pircenter.org/cuba2004/eng/index.html>.

10 December 2004
Batches of a therapeutic vaccine against lung cancer that will undergo clinical trials in the United States will be manufactured at new plant constructed at the Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Center in Cuba.
--Lilliam Riera, "Cuban vaccine against lung cancer: Clinical trial to begin in U.S. in 2005," Granma International, 10 December 2004, <http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2004/diciembre/vier10/51canvax.html>

30 December 2004
The United States has reversed its earlier decision to block publishers from printing scientific and other academic material from countries on which the United States has imposed sanctions, such as Cuba, Iran, and Sudan.
--"US allows publication of 'banned' scientific papers," Nature, 30 December 2004, <http://www.scidev.net/News/Index.cfm?fuseaction=readNews&itemid=1821&language=1>.

December 2004
Despite the United States embargo, Cuba has become a global leader in pharmaceutical research and production. In July 2004, the California company CancerVax received federal approval to test a Cuban-developed vaccine against lung cancer.
--Douglas Starr, "The Cuban Biotech Revolution," Wired Magazine, Issue 12.12, December 2004, <http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/12.12/cuba.html>.

10 January 2005
Jonathan Tucker, a senior researcher at the Washington-based Center for Nonproliferation Studies, in a co-sponsored mission with the Center for Defense Information visited several Cuban biotech facilities during October 3-7, 2004. Dr. Tucker's general impression is that it is not possible on the basis of impressions received during superficial visits to make a definitive assessment of whether Cuba is pursuing an offensive biological weapons program. However, neither he nor his colleagues observed anything that might indicate that Cuba had such a program.
--Jonathan B. Tucker, "Assessing the U.S. Bioweapons Allegations Against Cuba," Center for Defense Information, 10 January 2005, <http://www.cdi.org/friendlyversion/printversion.cfm?documentID=2827>.

13 January 2005
Cuban researchers have developed a cholera vaccine based on the "transmission mechanism of genes that codify the cholera toxin."
--"Cuban anti-cholera vaccine project advancing," Granma International, 13 January 2005, http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2005/enero/juev13/4vacuna-i.html.

August 2005
The US Department of State issues a report on Adherence to and Compliance with Arms Control, Nonproliferation, and Disarmament Agreements and Commitments to Congress acknowledging that there is a split view in the US intelligence community on whether Cuba possesses a biological warfare program. According to the report, Cuba possesses the technical capability to pursue a BW program because of the country's pharmaceutical program, but does not state that Havanna has done so. The report states "the Intelligence Community unanimously held that it was unclear whether Cuba has an active biological weapons effort now, or even had one in the past." The August 2005 report is a retreat from language in the previous State Department report issued in 2003 which stated "the United States believes that Cuba has at least a limited, developmental offensive biological warfare research and development effort."
--Warren P. Strobel, "U.S. backs away from claims that Cuba has bioweapons program," Knight Ridder, August 31, 2005; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, http://www.lexis-nexis.com.

November 2005
Havana AIN reports that Cuban Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology is testing a vaccine against rabbit hemorrhagic disease obtained using genetic engineering techniques. The report asserts that the United States introduced the virus causing the disease into Cuba in 1993, and since the initial outbreak there have been three additional outbreaks.
--"Cuba Testing Vaccine for 'U.S.-Introduced' Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease," Havana AIN, November 30, 205, in Open Source Center, https://www.opensource.gov.

4 August 2006
Citing the Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000, the US Department of State imposes sanctions for a term of two years on Cuba's Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), among others, for carrying out unspecified transfers of equipment and technology to Iran. The sanctions severely limit the ability of any entity within the US government to engage in substantive cooperation with CIGB. Among the measures:
"No department or agency of the United States government may procure [...] any goods, technology, or services from these foreign persons."
"No department or agency of the United States government may provide any assistance to the foreign persons, and these persons shall not be eligible to participate in any assistance program..."
"No individual license shall be implemented for the transfer [...] of items the export of which is controlled under the Export Administration Act of 1979 or the Export Administration Regulations, and any existing such licenses are suspended."
--US Department of State, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, "Imposition of Nonproliferation Measures Against Foreign Entities, Including a Ban on US Government Procurement," Public Notice 5483, Federal Register, Volume 71, No. 150, August 4, 2006.

28 February 2007
A former chief of Cuban military medical services who defected to the United States in 2003 claimed that Cuba is producing weaponized biological agents such as plague, botulism, and yellow fever in a laboratory near Havana. In an interview with the Miami Herald, the defector, Roberto Ortega, described an underground facility in which Cuban scientists have reproduced and maintained stocks of biological agents from Africa that Havana would use "to blackmail the United States in case of an international incident." Ortega said he decided to go public with the information only after U.S. authorities, with whom he shared the information two years earlier, did not appear to be following up on his claim.
--Frances Robles, "Defector says Cuba is developing biological weapons," Miami Herald, 27 February 2007; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, http://www.lexis-nexis.com.

	Updated October 2007