International Chemical Security Center (ICCSS) welcomed at Green Cross International in Washington DC on 29 April

Mr. Michael Luhan, Director for Communications, and Mr. James Markarian, Senior Adviser, of the International Center on Chemical Safety and Security (ICCSS) in Warsaw, Poland, were invited to speak about the Center and its important goals at a special session organised at the offices of Green Cross International (GCI) in downtown Washington DC on April 29, 2015.

The meeting moderated by Dr. Paul Walker, Director, Environmental Security and Sustainability, Green Cross International, gathered many senior officials and representatives from the U.S. Department of State, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Sandia National Laboratory, Greenpeace USA, foreign embassies, chemical industry, and other non-governmental organizations.

 

Dr. Walker stressed that global threats and security and safety challenges are increasing today in tandem with the globalization and spread of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) industries and materials. This requires unified global action that transcends political and geographic groupings, and the ICCSS has succeeded in removing traditional political concepts and prejudices that have long hindered timely global and trans-boundary cooperation in chemical safety and security.

 

Mr. Luhan provided a general introduction to the ICCSS programs and stressed that the ICCSS cooperates with many relevant players from all over the world, from developing countries and developed countries alike.  Mr. Luhan also briefed on a major undertaking by the ICCSS and its international partners - the first Global Summit and Fair on Chemical Safety and Security, which will take place in Kielce, Poland from 18 to 20 April 2016 (www.chemss2016.org).  The Summit will bring together leaders and multi-stakeholder audiences from all over the world, including government policy makers, national and international regulatory bodies, industry - including chemical associations and companies - laboratories, academia, NGOs, and independent experts.


Mr. Markarian gave a detailed presentation on the Integrated Chemical Safety and Security Program (ICSSP) in Ukraine.  The integrated program core objective includes support to meet immediate security threats.  It also contains assistance on security-related economic issues and fosters international economic co-operation and protection of environment.


The meeting confirmed a growing interest and support from the US stakeholders for the ICCSS programs to enhance chemical safety and security at local, national, regional and global levels.