UNITED NATIONS WORKSHOP ON IMPLEMENTING SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 1540 (2004)

IN AFRICA OPENS IN GABORONE, BOTSWANA, TOMORROW

NEW YORK, 26 November, (Office for Disarmament Affairs) -- A United Nations workshop on implementing United Nations Security Council resolution 1540 (2004) in Africa, the second one of its kind in the region, is being held on 27 and 28 November in Gaborone, Botswana.  The workshop is hosted by the Government of Botswana, organized by the Office for Disarmament Affairs and sponsored by the Governments of Andorra, Norway and the United States.

Approximately 40 representatives from the governmental sector, as well as international, regional and subregional organizations will participate.  The workshop aims at promoting steps to improve implementation of United Nations Security Council resolutions 1540 (2004) and 1673 (2006) in Africa, with particular focus on the requirements and opportunities for international cooperation and assistance to facilitate reporting and to improve capacity for implementing all aspects of resolutions 1540 (2004) and 1673 (2006).  The workshop will also promote greater cooperation and collaboration between participating States and key organizations.

On 28 April 2004, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 1540 (2004) under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, obliging States, inter alia, to refrain from supporting by any means non-State actors from developing, acquiring, manufacturing, possessing, transporting, transferring or using nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their delivery systems.  Resolution 1540 (2004) imposes binding obligations on all States to establish domestic controls to prevent the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, and their means of delivery, including by establishing appropriate controls over related materials.  It also encourages enhanced international cooperation on such efforts, in accord with and promoting universal adherence to existing international non-proliferation treaties.

The 1540 Committee was established pursuant to the resolution and Member States were thus called upon to report to it on steps they had taken or intended to take, to implement the resolution.  On 27 April 2006, the Security Council extended the mandate of the 1540 Committee for two years with the adoption of Security Council resolution 1673 (2006), which reiterated the objectives of resolution 1540 (2004) and expressed the interest of the Security Council in intensifying its efforts to promote the full implementation of the resolution.

For further information, contact:  Gabriele Kraatz-Wadsack at 212 963 3633.

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