United States To Host Fifth Anniversary Proliferation Security Initiative Meeting; National Security Advisor Steve Hadley To Provide Keynote Address

On May 28, 2008, Acting Under Secretary of State for International Security and Arms Control John C. Rood will chair a senior level meeting on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the launch of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) by President Bush in Krakow, Poland. The meeting will be held at the Hilton Washington, in Washington, D.C.

Stephen J. Hadley, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, will give the keynote address. Mr. Hadley will discuss proliferation challenges in the 21st century, and how the Proliferation Security Initiative can continue to help meet these challenges in the years ahead.

More than 90 governments from across the globe have endorsed the Proliferation Security Initiative Statement of Interdiction Principles since its adoption in Paris, France on September 4, 2003. These PSI participants will gather next week to review the PSI’s results and successes over the past five years and look at ways to continue strengthening the Initiative for the future. Additionally, on May 29, the United States will host a one-day PSI workshop at the same location, to provide detailed information on the broad range of PSI activities for all states interested in learning more about the PSI.

The PSI has made substantial contributions to strengthening the global commitment to stop proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their means of delivery. Since its inception, PSI states have held more than 30 interdiction exercises, shared information to stop proliferation-related shipments, promoted international cooperation and capacity-building to stop transfers of items and materials of WMD proliferation concern, and sent a clear and strong message to proliferators that PSI members are committed to using the full range of diplomatic, economic, law enforcement, and military tools to prevent proliferation consistent with national and international laws. For more information on the PSI, see http://www.state.gov/t/isn/c10390.htm.

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