Vietnam to Host Workshop on Implementing UNSCR 1540 Aimed at Preventing Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction

September 27, 2010

HANOI, September 27, 2010 – From September 28 through October 1, the United States will participate in a regional United Nations workshop on implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004).

“The U.S. views Resolution 1540 as a vital element in global efforts to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD),” said U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Michael Michalak, addressing workshop attendees.  “It is heartening to see ASEAN stepping up and playing a lead role on non-proliferation.”

Acting under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, the Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1540 on April 28, 2004, obliging all states to refrain from providing any form of support to non-state actors that attempt to develop, acquire, manufacture, possess, transport, transfer or use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their means of delivery.  Under the resolution, all states are to establish domestic controls to prevent the proliferation of these weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, including by establishing appropriate controls over related materials.  The resolution also affirms support for multilateral treaties aimed at eliminating or preventing proliferation of WMD and related items.

The 1540 Committee was established as a subsidiary body of the Security Council by resolution 1810 (2008), in order to continue to organize and participate in regional and subregional outreach events promoting states’ implementation of UNSCR 1540.

The workshop aims to enhance national capacities for the management of export-control processes at a practical level, and to improve information- and experience-sharing between participating countries.  It is also expected to facilitate technical assistance related to the resolution’s implementation.

Hosted by the Government of Vietnam, the workshop is organized by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) with financial support from the European Union and the Governments of New Zealand, Norway and the United States. Officials from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Burma, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, as well as representatives from a number of international, regional and subregional organizations, have been invited to participate.  This is the seventh regional workshop organized by UNODA on the implementation of this resolution since 2008.