OSCE meeting in Turkmenistan looks at export control, transshipment of weapons of mass destruction
ASHGABAT, 25 July 2014 –OSCE efforts to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1540 on non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their means of delivery was a focus at an OSCE-supported roundtable discussion that concluded in Ashgabat today.
The OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, in close co-operation with the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre, organized the roundtable discussion to raise participants’ awareness about best practices of prevention, detection and response to the illicit trafficking of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) materials.
The two-day event brought together about twenty-five participants representing the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defence, Internal Affairs, National Security, the Ministry of Economy and Development, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Affairs, as well as the State Customs and Border Services and the Ministry of Healthcare and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan.
OSCE and UN experts spoke about projects to support the implementation of the resolution 1540 and the importance of strengthening border management while implementing its provisions. Participants also discussed national approaches to non-proliferation issues as well as development of a National Implementation Action Plan on the UNSC Resolution 1540. A representative of the Foreign Ministry of Uzbekistan shared best practices in developing their National Action Plan on the implementation of the Resolution.
OSCE partner institutions which participated in this event included 1540 Committee and the 1540 Group of Experts, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA).
“National action plans, when executed, are a true reflection of a State’s commitment to implement fully resolution 1540 adopted in 2004," said Diego Araya, member of the 1540 Committee.
Richard Wheeler, Political Officer of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, said: “We believe today’s event will contribute to and further enhance Turkmenistan’s continuous efforts in the area of non-proliferation of mass destruction weapons and in the implementation of the UNSCR 1540, and in strengthening inter-agency co-operation in addressing WMD and related material proliferation risks.”