Non-proliferation of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear weapons discussed at OSCE meeting in Tashkent

An OSCE-facilitated expert meeting on the technical aspects of the implementation in Uzbekistan of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 on non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, with a special focus on preventing the involvement of non-state actors, was held in Tashkent on 19 August 2013.

The Resolution 1540 concerns the non-proliferation of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons and their means of delivery.

The meeting brought together 15 representatives of relevant agencies of Uzbekistan, including the State Customs Committee, the State Border Protection Committee, the State Inspectorate “Sanoatgeokontehnazorat” and other ministries involved in the drafting of a national action plan to implement the UN Security Council Resolution.

Christoph Opfermann, Acting OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, stressed the importance of the meeting as a forum to identify national priorities, put forward proposals on the implementation of the Resolution and would serve to improve inter-agency collaboration.

He said that strengthened national efforts to prevent proliferation of the weapons of mass destruction was in line with the Decision of the OSCE Ministerial Council in Dublin adopted in December 2012.