Global Transshipment Control Enforcement Workshop, Valletta, Malta, May 11-14, 2004

During May 11-14, 2004, the Governments of the United States and Malta hosted a Global Transshipment Control Workshop in Valletta. The workshop focused on identifying ways that countries can strengthen their export control systems to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), their delivery systems, related dual-use items, and advanced conventional arms.

The workshop convened officials from 15 countries in Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and South America.

The Honorable Anthony Gioia, U.S. Ambassador to Malta, opened the conference and Susan Burk, U.S. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Nonproliferation delivered the keynote address. Michael Frendo from Malta’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and John Mifsoud, Director General of Malta Customs, also addressed the workshop.

The workshop came just two weeks after the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution recognizing the danger proliferation poses to the entire world community and deciding that all states shall take and enforce effective measures to prevent proliferation.

As trade becomes increasingly globalized, it is no longer enough for governments simply to monitor the export of sensitive goods produced in their country. They must also be vigilant to prevent proliferators from exploiting their ports to transit or transship items to terrorists and weapons programs in third countries.

Recent revelations about how the A.Q. Khan proliferation network exploited gaps in national export control systems demonstrate the importance of efforts such as this workshop.