A workshop on activities to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) co-organised by the United States and Croatia as the regional leader in WMD prevention was held 20 and 21 November in Zagreb.
“Prevention of the proliferation of WMD is extremely important for security in the world and in our neighbourhood,” said President Ivo Josipović in his address. Underlining that there was "no absolute security", he stressed the need for countries to cooperate on the regional and global level to strengthen security. Speaking of Croatia's contribution to global security, Josipović said that about 6,000 Croatian troops had so far participated in international peace-keeping missions. In regard to regional cooperation, he said that Croatia was ready to help its neighbours in dealing with the consequences of natural disasters, such as wildfires and floods. “This is our orientation, now and in the future,” the president said.
The US Ambassador to Zagreb, Kenneth Merten, praised Croatia as a close ally and partner to the US for its strong efforts in preventing the proliferation of WMD, underscoring the importance of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) as an important tool in combating black markets and intercepting illegal shipments of WMD. “We need the PSI so that weapons of mass destruction would not fall into the wrong hands. This initiative shows what can be achieved if countries join together,” Merten said.
In her address, Assistant Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Vesna Batistić Kos pointed out Syria as “an example that the international community’s fight against WMD is not over.”
The workshop was held as part of the Proliferation Security Initiative to promote regional cooperation in WMD prevention and tested legal procedures in case of a WMD threat. Attending the workshop were 100 or so representatives from the region, while presentations were delivered by EU and NATO experts.
The PSI was launched by the US 2003 in Krakow and has since grown into a global initiative endorsed by more than 90 countries, including all NATO and EU member states. Its goal is to develop WMD prevention capacities through strong international cooperation. Participant countries, in accordance with international regulations and national legislatures, implement measures to prevent the spreading of these weapons.