Press Releases 2005

Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski, right, applauds President Bush after his speech at the Wawel Castle in Krakow, Poland, May 31, 2003, announcing the Proliferation Security Initiative (AP/WWP photo)

On May 31, 2005 the U.S. Government marks the second anniversary of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI).

The PSI, launched by President Bush in Krakow, Poland, in May 2003, seeks to prevent the transfer of weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems and related materials by air, ground or sea to and from states and nonstate actors of proliferation concern.

Poland has been active in PSI’s development since its inception. Poland has organized an information exchange meeting for all Central and East European countries, a ground exercise in Wroclaw in 2004, and the Anniversary Meeting in Krakow for more than sixty countries to mark PSI’s first anniversary.

The PSI is a success story in the fight against illicit trafficking of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), their delivery systems, and related materials on the ground, in the air and at sea to and from countries of proliferation concern. It is a dynamic, active, and international approach to the global proliferation problem.

PSI exercises are producing practical results, expanding international cooperation, and improving methods and experience in stopping the flow of WMD.

Linked to the anniversary is a multinational exercise led by the Governments of Poland and the Czech Republic to intercept an illegal railroad shipment of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) goods and materials transported via Poland and the Czech Republic to a third country. The exercise takes place in Ostrava, Czech Republic, on June 1.