The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) will host a workshop on "The Implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004) for African States", in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC), with the support of the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) and with the facilitation of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS).
The Workshop will take place in Pretoria on 21 and 22 November 2012.
Ambassador Baso Sangqu, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations (New York), is the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 for 2011/12.
The 1540 Committee was established by the Security Council to support States in their efforts to implement their obligations emanating from Security Council resolution 1540 (2004) aimed at preventing non-State actors from acquiring nuclear, chemical or biological weapons ("weapons of mass destruction"), their means of delivery or related material.
The purpose of the Workshop is to foster a dialogue on 1540 implementation with a clear development angle. Representatives from the Continent, relevant international, regional and sub-regional organisations will also be encouraged to:
- Examine potential synergies between the implementation of resolution 1540 and other socio-economic development objectives;
- Encourage the sharing of experience, lessons learned and effective practices relevant to resolution 1540;
- Explore relevant assistance and other programmes for implementation of obligations under the resolution, and
- Explore the possibility for cooperation and dialogue at the regional and sub-regional levels.
South Africa supports a holistic and sustainable approach to addressing international peace and security. The inextricable link between disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, as well as the right of States to use related technologies for peaceful purposes must be addressed in a systematic and progressive manner.
Members of the media are invited as follows:
Date: Wednesday, 21 November 2012
Time: 08h00
Venue: Sheraton Hotel, Pretoria
Media programme
08h00 – 08h45 Registration
09h00 – 10h30 Opening remarks and overview of objectives
- Ambassador Pieter Vermeulen, Chief Director: United Nations, DIRCO
- Ambassador Ramtane Lamamra, African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security
- Ms Amelia Broodryk, ISSKeynote Address: "United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004)
- Ambassador Baso Sangqu, 1540 Committee Chair (TBC)
RSVP:
Nthabiseng Ramatshela
Cell: 082 675 0893
E-mail: ramatshelan@dirco.gov.za
Enquiries:
Nelson Kgwete
Cell: 076 431 3078
