The Security Council extended the work of the “1540 Committee” for a 10 year term (beyond its current expiration term of April 25, 2011). The Committee was established originally under UN Security Council Resolution 1540 in 2004 –See our Report – “Have You Heard of the UN Security Council Counterterrorism ‘1540 Committee’”? - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/have-you-heard-of-the-un-security-council-counterterrorism-1540-committee-by-ambassador-mo/27330 . The Committee in short was established to prevent non-state actors from obtaining weapons of mass destruction. It effectively calls upon UN state members to: • prevent non-state actors from obtaining access to nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their delivery systems; • adopt laws prohibiting access by non-state actors to such weapons and their means of delivery; and • establish domestic controls to prevent proliferation of such weapons and their delivery systems, as well as controls over related materials.” Secretary General Welcomes: The UN Secretary General issued a brief statement welcoming the extension of the work of the “1540 Committee”: “The Secretary-General welcomes the extension of the mandate of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) for ten years. Concerted international cooperation and action remains vital to the prevention of proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and their means of delivery to terrorists and other non-State actors. The Secretary-General will continue to give priority to disarmament and non-proliferation issues and is ready to work actively with the Security Council to promote international efforts to achieve the objectives of resolution 1540 (2004)." What About /Eliminating/Reducing Nuclear Weapons by State Parties? Unfortunately UNSC Resolution 1540 only addresses the binding obligations on all States to establish controls preventing the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, and their means of delivery with respect to non-state parties. It does not advance the long standing negotiations between states , particularly the “nuclear club” to eliminate nuclear weapons. No progress has been made in this context for the last 15 years (some bilateral treaties have been engaged in this period between states as US and the Russian Federation). The progress toward elimination of nuclear weapons on a multilateral (global) is stalled. Frustration has been expressed by some states while perhaps others have exploited this lack of progress to retain ambiguity regarding their plans to secure or maintain covert nuclear programs. See Reports on Iran, US, Russia and UN Messengers of Peace on Nuclear Weapon Proliferation/Elimination: Iran--- diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/iran-nuclear-program/25323 US--- diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/hillary-clinton-nuclear-disarmament/25318 Russian Federation--- diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/russia-nuclear-disarmament/25324 An Opportunity to Push for Weapons Elimination? Extension of the “1540 Committee” may have left the door open for the UN Secretary General to push harder for broader nuclear weapons elimination. The new Resolution asked the Secretary General to establish a group of up to eight experts to assist the work of the “1540 Committee.” This may evolve into a more effective push for broader nuclear weapon – weapons of mass destruction - elimination. Ban Ki-moon has evidenced his commitment to nuclear weapon elimination. Michael Douglas, long time UN Messenger of Peace, who has focused his work at the United Nations on elimination of nuclear weapons and the UN Secretary General have become a frequent duo in appearances at the United Nations and beyond on the subject. Needless to say that as a former Foreign Minister of South Korea. Ban Ki-moon is even more sensitive to nuclear proliferation. (See below Efforts by UN Messenger(s) of Peace) Michael Douglas UN Messenger of Peace --- diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/michael-douglas-un-messenger-of-peacenuclear-disarmament/25326 Christie Brinkley--- diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/christie-brinkley-nuclear-weapons/25317 By Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey Face Book at “Diplomatically Incorrect” Twitter - DiplomaticallyX