PSI Workshop Held in London

Representatives from nations that support the U.S.-led Proliferation Security Initiative gathered this week in London to discuss industry involvement in the effort to halt trafficking of WMD materials, the U.S. Defense Department announced yesterday (see GSN, July 7).

Officials from the FBI and Defense, State and Homeland Security departments met Monday and yesterday with representatives from 19 nations.  Topics of discussion included “port governance, the roles of freight forwarders and shipping line owners and operators, the disposition of cargo, implications of the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation, the government decision-making process, and how industry can further participate with PSI supportive nations,” according to a Pentagon release.

“The workshop reflects the continued efforts of PSI governments and industry partners to work together against those engaged in WMD-related proliferation trafficking.  The goal is to disrupt WMD-related trafficking networks that support this dangerous trade,” David Cooper, nonproliferation policy director in the office of the secretary of defense, said in the release.

Previous PSI government-industry workshops were held in 2004 in Denmark and 2005 in Los Angeles (U.S. Defense Department release, Sept. 26).

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