The Second Anniversary Of Proliferation Security Initiative

MFA: ''WE AIM TO IMPROVE OUR CONTRIBUTION TO INITIATIVE''

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said that Turkey would continue supporting activities under the security initiative against proliferation of mass destruction weapons.
     MFA released a statement to mark the second anniversary of Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), noting that PSI was put into practice by 11 states in May 2003, recalling that Turkey announced its support to PSI in December 2003.
     The ministry noted that Turkey closely followed activities under the PSI, indicating, ''Turkey takes necessary steps on the way of enactment of interior law regulations in the light of PSI applications, UN Security Council resolution 1540. We aim to improve our contribution to this initiative.''
     Stating that it was decided that Turkey would host a land/air/naval maneuver in Eastern Mediterranean in 2006, the statement said that General Staff and other relevant institutions launched necessary studies for this maneuver.
     ''Turkey which is aware of the importance of international cooperation in fight against terrorism will continue exerting efforts on this issue in all platforms,'' the ministry noted.
    
     -PSI-
    
     PSI is a response to the growing challenge posed by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), their delivery systems, and related materials worldwide. The PSI builds on efforts by the international community to prevent proliferation of such items, including existing treaties and regimes. It is consistent with and a step in the implementation of the UN Security Council Presidential Statement of January 1992, which states that the proliferation of all WMD constitutes a threat to international peace and security, and underlines the need for member states of the UN to prevent proliferation.
     The PSI is also consistent with recent statements of the G-8 and the European Union, establishing that more coherent and concerted efforts are needed to prevent the proliferation of WMD, their delivery systems, and related materials. PSI participants are deeply concerned about this threat and of the danger that these items could fall into the hands of terrorists, and are committed to working together to stop the flow of these items to and from states and non-state actors of proliferation concern.
     (E֭MS)
2005-05-31