On 2-3 November 2017 an International Workshop «Promoting the effective implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) in the context of evolving proliferation risks and challenges» takes place in Kyiv under auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

The Workshop is jointly organized by the Government of Ukraine in cooperation with the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

The main purpose of the Workshop is to assess evolving proliferation risks and challenges in the area of non-proliferation of the weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in the context of the 2016 Comprehensive Review of implementation of resolution 1540, endorsed by the UNSCR 2325(2016), and to further identify opportunities for practical, operational and enforcement cooperation between the States, international and regional organizations to address current challenges and threats to the non-proliferation regime. 

More than 40 participants from UN member states and international organizations (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), World Custom Organization (WCO) are meeting in Kyiv to discuss progress in, and challenges to, the implementation of the resolution 1540.

The State Secretary of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mr. Andriy Zayats in his opening remarks underlined that resolution 1540 added a new dimension to the issue of non-proliferation by addressing the illegal trafficking of relevant materials and prohibiting their acquisition by the non-state actors, including terrorists.

Mr. Andriy Zayats outlined contemporary challenges and threats relating to proliferation of WMD, emphasized the importance of full and effective implementation of resolution 1540, as well as presented the overall position of Ukraine on WMD non-proliferation.

The MFA State Secretary called upon the international community to act united and decisively in preventing any attempts and countering every action to endanger the relevant international instruments through either aggressive policy, violation of State’s sovereignty and territorial integrity or through blocking important decisions to be adopted by the UN or its bodies.

The participants of the Workshop welcomed the completion of the 2016 Comprehensive Review on the status of implementation of resolution 1540 and expressed their unity and cohesion in undertaking further concerted actions to fully comply with the obligations under this international instrument.

On April 28, 2004 the UN Security Council unanimously voted to adopt Resolution 1540, a measure aimed at preventing non-state actors from acquiring nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons, their means of delivery, and related materials. The resolution filled a gap in international law by addressing the risk that terrorists might obtain, proliferate, or use weapons of mass destruction. Besides, the Security Council established a special committee, which reports to the Security Council on the implementation of resolution 1540.

Implementation of resolution 1540 was one of the priority issues in the work of Ukraine as non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council during 2016-2017.