A Russian delegation is taking part in the meeting of the PSI founders in Krakow, the Russian Foreign Ministry's information and press department said in a statement.
The Initiative was proposed by US President George Bush in May 2003, the ministry recalled. The countries of the so-called PSI core are 15 states, including Russia. Over 60 nations have agreed to contribute to PSI goals in some way.
"The Initiative aims at finding out, preventing and stopping illegal turnover and trans-border movement of WMD materials and means of delivery, including the black market of such materials," the statement reads.
"Thus, the PSI is a potentially useful mechanism to fight against proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, including its new threat, a possibility of terrorists' acquiring of WMD," Russia believes.
The threats of WMD proliferation are global and, consequently, require a global response, the ministry pointed out. "We are positive that they can be combated only by collective efforts," the statement emphasizes.
The PSI principles, set by the Paris declaration of the founder states in September 2003 and developed in London in October 2003, are in line with Russia's stand in the non-proliferation sphere, Moscow points out. "International interaction in these issues lies within the framework of the UN Security Council's Resolution 1540, which calls for cooperation to stop WMD black markets," the department said.
Russia views Bush's initiative as a supplement, not an alternative to the existing non-proliferation mechanism, the statement stresses.
"The Russian party intends to contribute to fulfillment of the PSI with consideration to compatibility of the action with the international legislation, national legislation and common interests of non-proliferation," the ministry underlined.
Moscow views the Initiative as part of the global strategy to strengthen international regimes of WMD non-proliferation and export control. "We proceed on the assumption that action within the Initiative should not and will not hinder legal economic, scientific and technical cooperation between nations," the statement concludes.
