Security and Non-proliferation, issue 1(19)

Dear Reader!

An extremely important document was approved in Ukraine on 12 February 2007 – Ukraine’s National Security Strategy. Among factors threatening strategic stability in the world, the Strategy identifies “uncontrolled spread of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery means. Ukraine with its scientific and technical potential; nuclear, chemical and missile production may be an object of interest for international terrorist groups”. It is noteworthy that the existence of such threats is finally recognized at the highest level in Ukraine whereas high-ranked officials, those of special services in particular, previously dismissed the possibility of Ukraine becoming an object of interest for international terrorists.

The year 2006 was difficult for the nuclear non-proliferation regime. The tension around Iran’s nuclear program led the UN Security Council to adopt Resolution 1737 of 23 December. According to it, “all States shall take the necessary measures to prevent the supply, sale or transfer directly or indirectly from their territories, or by their nationals… for the use in or benefit of, Iran, and whether or not originating in their territories, of all items, materials, equipment, goods and technology which could contribute to Iran’s enrichment-related, reprocessing or heavy water-related activities, or to the development of nuclear weapon delivery systems.” The Council urged all States to “freeze the funds, other financial assets and economic resources” of Iranian entities and individuals involved in activities posing a threat to the nuclear non-proliferation regime as well as in the development of delivery systems for such weapons. The Resolution Annex also lists 12 individuals and 10 organizations whose assets may be subject to freezing. Another last year’s event of extraordinary importance for the nuclear non-proliferation regime was the underground test of a low-power nuclear explosive device in North Korea and the launch of ballistic missiles from its territory.

Unfortunately, we have to admit that the dangerous processes worldwide since international terrorism occurred bearing the threat of putting weapons of mass destruction to use are outstripping the measures taken by the world community to counter international terrorism. In addressing the new threats, it is only a genuine cooperation based on an essentially new level of confidence and interaction as well as a more rigorous and universal observance of commitments made under international treaties that can give us hope that the world will not get entangled in a new phase of nuclear arms race.

Development of cooperation under the Global Partnership against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction will clearly facilitate mutual understanding and be beneficial for the non-proliferation regime. This issue of the Journal informs on the progress of informal talks on Ukraine’s cooperation under the Global Partnership, held in December 2006 in Kyiv.

The State Service of Export Control of Ukraine is demonstrating this year a new degree of openness and reasonable transparency. To illustrate this trend, we are publishing responses by acting Head of SSECU Oleksandr Grishutkin to journalists’ questions and a summary report for SSECU activities in 2006.

The Editorial Team is also offering for discussion the Concept for a specialized information-analytical bureau Security and Non-Proliferation to be established in Ukraine. This initiative ensues from the need to form a circle of WMD non-proliferation experts and to improve the expertise on this subject of journalists working for socio-political mass media. We will highly appreciate your suggestions and comments on the Concept. Olga Kosharna, Deputy Editor-in-Chief

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