WASHINGTON, D.C. /eNewsChannels/ — On Tuesday, May 11, 2010, the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines announced its endorsement of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) Statement of Interdiction Principles through the conclusion of a ship boarding agreement (SBA). Officially titled “Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Concerning Cooperation to Suppress the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, their Delivery Systems, and Related Materials by Sea,” the SBA acknowledges that proliferation and terrorism seriously threaten international peace and security, and that trafficking in weapons of mass destruction (WMD), their delivery systems, and related items by States and non-state actors of proliferation concern must be stopped.
The United States welcomes Saint Vincent and the Grenadines participation in the PSI and looks forward to working with the government to advance the nonproliferation goals of the PSI and its Statement of Interdiction Principles.
PSI participants commit to undertake measures to interdict illicit transfers of WMD-related items, exchange relevant information, and strengthen national legal authorities. With the addition of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, 97 countries on six continents are PSI participants, having endorsed the PSI Statement of Interdiction Principles.
The United States believes there should be the broadest possible participation in the PSI by all responsible states, to further strengthen international cooperation against trafficking in WMD, their delivery systems, and related materials.
For more information on the Proliferation Security Initiative, please see the State Department’s website: http://www.state.gov/t/isn/c10390.htm.
