24 June 2008
Nations Extol Virtues of Fighting Together Against Nuclear Terror
India, Jordan newest nations to join coalition
Washington -- The threat of nuclear terrorism may be an enduring one.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates recently highlighted the problem when he said what keeps every senior leader awake at night “is the thought of a terrorist ending up with a weapon of mass destruction, especially nuclear.”
Director of the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency James Tegnelia told an international conference in Madrid, Spain, in June that potential terrorists view the shrinking size of nuclear devices as a windfall because weapons are easier to traffic and hide.
No single country can thwart such a threat on its own, Tegnelia said, but together there is much to be done to deter, detect and deny potential nuclear terrorists safe haven.
More than 200 representatives from 56 countries and observers from the International Atomic Energy Agency and the European Union (EU) met June 16-18 to strategize and identify ways to strengthen the two-year-old Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism.
The United States and Russia proposed the initiative in July 2006 as a way for nations to address the problem and ensure that both the counterterrorism and counterproliferation community work hand in hand.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kislyak and acting U.S. Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security John Rood also met one on one during the conference. (See "71 Nations Join to Prevent Nuclear Terror Attack.")
Both countries issued a joint statement June 17 saying the Madrid gathering is “an important reminder to one another of the commitments we have to each of our citizens to see clearly the concrete steps we can take together to prevent nuclear terrorism.”
Kislyak told Agence France-Presse that the number of countries supporting the initiative increases each year because of the awareness that nuclear terrorism “is a global, common threat that requires a global response.”
India and Jordan are two of the newest nations to endorse the principles of the initiative, joining 71 others that already are affiliated with the voluntary coalition.
The EU issued a statement of support June 17 expressing its commitment to combating nuclear terrorism in a determined and systematic way consistent with national and local legislation and with its obligations under international law and other legal frameworks.
INPUT OFFERED BY DELEGATES, OBSERVERS
The EU’s representative on nonproliferation, Annalisa Giannella, said the EU is well equipped to contribute to combating nuclear terrorism. She pointed out that the EU has acquired a great deal of relevant scientific and technical expertise.
Giannella said the European Commission’s Joint Research Center is particularly strong in the field of nuclear and radioactive forensic analysis. This expertise would be valuable to those in the initiative wishing to strengthen nuclear detection capabilities and use advanced forensics to trace ownership of a nuclear explosive.
Portugal’s head of delegation, Rui Vinhas, said his country values the development of coordination mechanisms to enhance its ability to combat nuclear terrorism effectively. Portugal recently signed an agreement with the United States to put nuclear detection equipment in its main port, and Portuguese customs agents will be trained in its use and maintenance.
The deputy director-general of Israel’s Atomic Energy Commission, David Danieli, told the group that no effort should be spared in denying terrorists access to nuclear and radiological materials. Steps nations should consider include sealing off financial resources, guarding nuclear facilities, intercepting illicit traffic, or sharing data among partners so that terrorists are apprehended well before they carry out “their devious plans.”
The director of the Disarmament and Non-proliferation Division in South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Jang-keun Lee, said the initiative is an excellent venue for countries to build their own skills at all levels of government and to strengthen international readiness for nuclear terrorism by sharing information and experiences.
China’s head of delegation, Bentang Zhao, said the initiative has garnered broad support within the international community through its openness to all, multilateral commitment and reliance on recognized international laws.
The delegates discussed the importance of attracting other supporting nations, especially in Latin America, Southeast Asia and Africa. The initiative's members are especially eager to have additional Arab and African nations participating. Morocco plans to organize a meeting for West African nations to raise awareness of the dangers of nuclear terrorism.
Delegates and observers also learned more about Spain’s May 28-30 tabletop exercise on how to respond to a simulated explosion that would disperse radiological materials. The EU sent an observer to the May event, which included Afghanistan, Germany, Russia, Ukraine and the United States.
Delegates also heard about Kazakhstan’s “Atom Anti-Terror 2008” field exercise held June 6 at the Almaty Institute of Nuclear Physics. The scenario involved 900 Kazakh special forces and emergency personnel working to thwart a simulated takeover of a civilian nuclear facility by terrorists who had taken hostages. Sixteen nations sent observers to watch the action unfold through attempted negotiations, a raid and the final resolution.
Simulations and field exercises are a way to strengthen the bonds of this voluntary partnership. Participants anticipate a robust and multifaceted program unfolding through 2009 -- with exercises, workshops and seminars. Russia will be the next to host a workshop in August on security for nuclear materials.
See also "Accelerated Cooperation Needed to Fight Nuclear Terrorism."
For more information about U.S. policy, see the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism.
