10th International Export Control Conference

• On June 25-27, 2009, the 10^th International Export Control Conference was held in Istanbul. Turkey.

• The U.S. government and the Republic of Turkey co-hosted the event, which was conducted under the auspices of the U.S. Department of State’s Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) program.

• Conference participants included more than 200 delegates from 60 countries, as well as experts from numerous international and non-governmental organizations.

• Featured speakers included Ambassador Tomur Bayer, Director-General for Security Affairs, Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Dr. Eliot Kang, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Nuclear Nonproliferation Policy and Negotiations; Douglas Silliman, Deputy Chief of Mission, US Embassy Ankara; and Federal District Court Judge Richard Stearns.

• The Conference helped promote international cooperation in developing effective export and border controls to prevent proliferation of WMD and destabilizing conventional arms.

• During the Conference, participants had the opportunity to learn about recent developments regarding proliferation challenges, the multilateral nonproliferation regimes, UNSCR 1540/1810 requirements and available assistance, regional cooperation, NGO support for national export control systems, and licensing and enforcement matters.

• Additionally, participants discussed practical nonproliferation measures, such as government outreach to industry, countering proliferation financing efforts, investigating and prosecuting proliferators, risk assessment, and automated licensing systems.

• The Conference proved to be highly successful in providing a forum for participants to identify common challenges, discuss possible solutions, and establish regional and global contacts to strengthen cooperation on export control and related border security activities.