OSCE-supported event enhances efforts of Central Asia and Mongolia to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction

From 8 to 10 November, 55 representatives of relevant ministries and state agencies of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan as well as representatives of international organizations took part in the peer-review meeting in Istanbul on the implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR 1540) on preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and means of their delivery.

“The OSCE is proud to support this regional initiative which serves as a great platform and an excellent opportunity to review the status of national implementation of  UNSCR 1540 (2004), as well as discuss current challenges and explore areas of further co-operation and collaboration among States of the region while also potentially attracting assistance in the effective implementation of the Resolution,” shared Shawn DeCaluwe, Chief of the Forum for Security and Co-operation Support Unit, OSCE.

The peer-review meeting aims to promote the implementation of the UNSCR 1540 at national levels through the effective implementation of provisions of National Action Plans, and to strengthen legislations in export control, biological and chemical security, as well as enhance regional co-operation and response mechanisms against proliferations of WMD. In addition, the peer-review meeting provides a platform for discussion of the results achieved on the Recommendations of the Issyk-Kul Round of peer-review meeting held in 2018 in a 5+1 format: Central Asia and the Republic of Belarus.

The regional peer-review meeting is organized by the initiative of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic and with the support of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre, European Union, UN Office for Disarmament Affairs, and the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek within the framework of enhancing regional efforts to prevent proliferation of WMD, and strengthening trust and peace in the region.

The regional peer-review meeting was also attended by representatives of the UN Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament, the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs, Biological Weapons Implementation Support Unit, the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control, the US Export Control and Related Border Security Programme, 1540 Committee's Group of Experts, Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the OSCE and its field offices in Central Asia.