Czech military official: Chemical, biological weapons bigger threat than nuclear war

PRAGUE, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- Terrorist and extremist groups' attacks with chemical and biological weapons are a much greater threat to the Czech Republic and the world than a nuclear war, Josef Proks, Czech military deputy chief of staff, said in Liberec, north of the Czech Republic on Tuesday.

"A large military conflict in Europe is not supposed, but we must not slacken our effort in educating specialists in protection against mass destruction weapons and in technological development," said Proks, who attended a Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) conference on protection against mass destruction weapons.

William Puttmann, from NATO's supreme command, said terrorists might choose as their targets industrial capacities from which harmful substances could spread after the attack, the Czech news agency CTK said.

The role of chemical armies is transferring from wars to the protection of civilians' lives, for instance, during Olympic Games and at NATO summits, Puttmann said.

Japanese military expert Utsonomiya Shoei said his country considers terrorist attacks with chemical and biological weapons as most dangerous, and therefore it is strengthening the role of the chemical army in the protection of civilians.

The conference is attended by experts from 16 countries from three continents, with representatives from NATO countries dominating. Attending the conference are also soldiers from countries outside NATO.

"A quick exchange of information between NATO member and non-member countries and their further cooperation prevents mass destruction weapons form falling in unauthorized hands," said Jan Sulc, spokesman for the 31st brigade of radiation, chemical and biological protection of the Czech Republic.

The Czech Republic is a leading country of NATO in the protection against mass destruction weapons. Specialists from the brigade took part in missions in the Gulf of Persia war in the past. They also protected the Summer Olympics in Athens and NATO summits in Istanbul and Riga. They are also deployed in international peace-keeping forces in Afghanistan.

"The biggest advantage of the Czech chemical army are university-educated experts who are capable of solving emerging problems," Sulc said.