MARKING FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF PSI WITH AN OP-ED

UNCLAS YEREVAN 000699

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/CARC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL MNUC KNNP XG AM
SUBJECT: MARKING FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF PSI WITH AN OP-ED

REF: STATE 71024


1. Post concluded the best way to accomplish reftel goals was
to place an op-ed from the CDA in the governmental newspaper
Hayastan Hanrepetutyun, which we also conveyed as a courtesy
to the MFA's International Security Department. The op-ed
ran on May 30. Complete text follows.


2. TEXT OF OP-ED:

May 31 will mark the fourth anniversary of the establishment
of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI). The PSI is
an informal network of cooperating nations that are committed
to stopping trafficking in weapons of mass destruction (WMD)
on the land, sea or in the air. All PSI activities are
voluntary and vary according to an individual country's
capabilities and legal framework. The hallmark of PSI
cooperation is the rapid coordination required to prevent
proliferation. This growing partnership of nations
demonstrates the global commitment of responsible nations to
ensure that WMD proliferators will not find a safe haven for
their illicit trade.

Since its inception, the PSI has gained the support of more
than 80 countries, including Armenia. We would like to
thank Armenia for endorsing this initiative and for being an
active partner in the war on terror. We also acknowledge and
greatly appreciate Armenia's partnership in the Global
Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism, which will hold its
third meeting in Kazakhstan in mid-June.

Both the Global Initiative and the PSI contribute to the war
on terror. The PSI has been, and continues to be, an
enormously successful tool in restricting, and in some cases
stopping, proliferation activities. To date, PSI partners
have conducted 26 operational interdiction training exercises
involving more than 50 nations. These exercises are a key
element in increasing the interoperability of PSI
participants, improving the interdiction decision-making
processes and procedures, and enhancing the interdiction
capacities of all participating states.

This growing partnership of nations demonstrates the global
commitment of responsible nations to ensure that WMD
proliferators will not find a safe haven for their illicit
trade. Armenia has proven itself an active partner in this
sphere, participating not only through its international
commitments, but also through closer monitoring of its
borders.
GODFREY