I. Proliferation Security Initiative was initiated by the President of the USA , George W. Bush in Kraków on 31 May 2003. The Initiative is aimed at states, non - state actors and other participants of illegal arms trade of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), their delivery systems and related materials. Participants propose development of cooperation to help impede and stop the flow of WMD and to interdict any potential shipment, be it transported by sea, air or land.

The core group of PSI participants at first consisted of Australia , France , Germany , Italy , Japan , the Netherlands , Portugal , Spain , United Kingdom and the USA . They were later joined (after Lisbon Plenary) by Canada , Norway and Singapore .

The Initiative contrary to other international agreements and control regimes that concentrate on political and legal aspects focuses on practical issues of impedind the flow of WMD, their delivery systems and means for their production.

II. During Paris Plenary (3 - 4 September 2003) participants agreed upon a "Statement of Interdiction Principles". The document states that proliferation of WMD poses a significant threat to international peace and security and includes participants commitment to create effective means of stopping any shipment of WMD, their delivery systems and means of their production. It also reaffirms the consistency of the Initiative with international law and acts of international organizations, including the UN Security Council. The statement clearly stipulates the readiness to cooperate with all like - minded states.

The statement represents a political consensus within the "core group" and provides a scope for actions. It is also a strong signal that participants are committed to introduce active measures, as provided in national regulations, for stopping one of the biggest threats in proliferation of WMD - shipment of WMD by sea and air.

III. Poland takes an active part in developing PSI in its practical aspects aimed at stopping the flow of WMD. The Republic of Poland concentrates mostly on:

1. Outreach activities of PSI and hosting of regional meetings in Warszawa (12 January 2004). On 12 January 2004 Warszawa was a host to Informational Meeting on the development of PSI for CEE states. It was organized for the purpose of informing the countries of the region about aims and development of the Initiative.

2. Preparation and conduct of the PSI Ground Interdiction Exercise (19 - 21 April 2004)

The exercise was the first ground interdiction exercise conducted within PSI. Germany and the USA took direct part in the table-top exercise that was later followed by the ground exercise (other PSI countries were present as observers) together with Bulgaria , the Czech republic , Hungary , Lithuania and Romania . The exercise received positive feedback, both from guests and participants.