This bulletin highlights significant events in the world of arms
control in the coming days, as compiled by staff and friends of the Arms Control Association.
For more news and analysis on these and other weapons-related security issues, consider subscribing to ACA's monthly journal Arms Control Today. Available in print/digital and digital-only subscriptions.
- the Editors at Arms Control Today
Feb. 18: P5+1 Talks with Iran on Its Nuclear Program Resume In Vienna
Diplomats from the P5+1 (China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and Iran will convene in Vienna this week to begin a crucial series of meetings to try to resolve the long-running dispute over Tehran's nuclear ambitions.
For more information and analysis, see "Final Phase P5+1 Nuclear Negotiations: Key Issues and Challenges," by Daryl Kimball and Kelsey Davenport.
Feb. 21: Latest Monthly Report from the IAEA on Iran's Nuclear Program
By week's end, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is expected to complete its second monthly report on Iran's implementation of the first phase agreement with the P5+1 group. According to diplomatic sources who spoke with Reuters, the report is expected to show that Iran is complying with the agreement. It is also likely that the report will show that Iran's stockpile of lower-grade (3.5%) enriched uranium has increased in recent months. For a summary of the IAEA's first monthly report see: "IAEA Confirms Iran Is Complying With First Phase of Nuclear Deal With World Powers," from Jan. 20.
OPCW Executive Council to Meet on Syria CW Mission Feb. 21
Amidst growing frustration among OPCW member states and the UN with Syrian regime over its failure to complete the transfer of its chemical stockpile on schedule to transport ships in Latakia for neutralization outside of Syria, the OPCW Executive Council will meet on Feb. 21 to review the situation. To date Syria has completed three transfers of material amounting to only 11% of its total declared stockpile. For more information, see the OPCW-UN Joint Mission Web site.
NGO Leaders Press for U.S. to Join Mine Ban Treaty at Feb. 19 Event
The U.S. Campaign to Ban Landmines is holding a special event in Washington D.C, on Wednesday, February 19 beginning at 9:30am to promote the Mine Ban Treaty ahead of its Third Review Conference in Mozambique in June 2014, as well as highlight the need for a positive conclusion to the U.S. landmine policy review, now in its fifth year. The event will be live-streamed at http://www.uscbl.org/
To RSVP, contact: Andrew Haag (202) 612-4351 or [email protected]
Speakers will include: Nobel Peace Laureate Jody Williams: Prince Mired Raad Al Hussein of Jordan; Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.); François Rivasseau, deputy head of the EU delegation to the United States, who was involved in the negotiations of the Mine Ban Treaty in the 1990s on behalf of France. Ambassador Amélia Matos Sumbana of Mozambique will deliver closing remarks. The full program is online here.
The USCBL wrote to President Obama on January 31, 2014 urging that "the United States to join the world's 161 States Parties to the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty."