On 27 - 28 September 2017, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand co-hosted the “South-East Asian Workshop on Global Challenges to Successful Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004), and Regional Efforts to Address Them” with the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD) at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Headquarters in Bangkok.

  The workshop brought together representatives from 15 of Thailand’s relevant authorities; such as the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Science and Tecnology, the Ministry of Defence, and the Office of the National Security Council; those from various ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste, as well as experts from UN - related agencies, namely the 1540 Committee’s Group of Experts, the Biological Weapons Convention Implementation Support Unit (BWC ISU), the 1540 Support Unit under the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI). 

  During the two-day workshop, participants had the opportunity to share their national implementation policies and practices while addressing and discussing emerging trends and challenges for 1540 implementation and non-proliferation works. Some main points of exchange and dialogue include the synergies between UNSCR 1540 (2004) and other multilateral frameworks on Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) and counter-terrorism, intangible technology transfers, and the importance of having national contact points and a regional network for cooperation.

  Ms. Morakot Sriswadi, Deputy Director-General of the Department of International Organizations, delivered opening remarks on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and gave a presentation on Thailand’s efforts on 1540 implementation, showcasing Thailand’s strong commitment to non-proliferation and disarmament. Moreover, Lieutenant General MC Chalermsuk Yugala, Advisor to the Royal Thai Army Chemical Department, gave a presentation on the relevance of the Chemical Weapons Convention’s implementation practices for effective implementation of UNSCR 1540 (2004) and the Biological Weapons Convention. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also hosted a dinner reception to welcome the participants of the workshop on the evening of 27 September 2017.  

 

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 2 October 2017