Annual Conference for Nonproliferation Program Participants Held Recently
The on-line event was organized by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation.
“The mission of our Bureau is to prevent the proliferation of the mass destruction weapons and ensure international security in the world. Working in close cooperation with other U.S. State Department bureaus, agencies, as well as international partners, we monitor, develop and implement the effective policy measures in response to proliferation threats”, said Kathryn Insley, Deputy Director of the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation of the U.S. State Department.
The following four offices work under the auspices of the U.S. Department of State Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation: Export Control Cooperation (ECC), Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR), Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund (NDF) and Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism (WMDT).
“The plans for 2024 include the financing of a number of programs which will counter the destabilizing activity of those countries which pose a direct threat to the United States and partner countries. Our Bureau plays a crucial role in deterrence of russian federation and its destructive behavior at the international level,” – said Kathryn Insley.
As stated by Kathryn Insley, russia poses a direct threat to the international security. It is proved by russia’s terrible behavior in Ukraine, as well as constant threatening by nuclear weapons. “To deter russian aggression we will continue to support Ukraine and strengthen other key partners in the region,” noted a representative of the U.S. State Department Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation.
Julia Khersonsky, Director of the Office of Export Control Cooperation (ECC), joined the discussion. “This year, we will continue to support Ukraine in the field of strengthening of the National Export Control and Border Security System, we will help to fulfill obligations to prevent spreading of mass destruction weapons and related materials and technologies. Besides, we plan to create a map of the chain of supplies to russian federation of components for the manufacture of the weapons which russia uses in the war with Ukraine and prevent this in every possible way,” said Julia Khersonsky.
As stated by Ryan Taugher, Director of the Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR), the plans for 2024 include the following: promotion to the implementation of a new package of sanctions against russia and belarus, assistance to the financial institutions and regulators in tracking the methods of evasion of sanctions by russian federation citizens and prevention it. “In addition, we will extend the programs to counter the proliferation of chemical weapons with the participation of such states as russia, Syria and Iran,” he said. As for the financial support to Ukraine, there will be established a cooperation with rapid response teams of the Ministry of Health: training on radiation, chemical, biological and nuclear threat response, provision of personnel with individual protection means and special equipment. Besides, the package of assistance to Ukraine will include: training of the law enforcement agencies and other specialized ministries on radiation, chemical, biological and nuclear threat response; support of critical infrastructure most vulnerable to russian attacks; increasing the level of cyber security by means of personnel training.
According to Matt Brechwald, Director of the Office of Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Fund (NDF), since March 2022, the NDF has provided $53 million in financial assistance to Ukraine for the purchase of rescue and life-saving equipment, the cooperation will continue in 2024.
Tim Mazzarelli, Director of the Office of Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism (WMDT), also shared the plans for cooperation with Ukraine for 2024. Among them: ensuring safety of nuclear and radioactive materials by providing Ukraine with appropriate equipment and advanced technologies; strengthening of Ukrainian legal and regulatory framework on protection from radiation, chemical, biological and nuclear threats; further training of the experts on response to the use of mass destruction weapons by russia.
Uatom.org