Brussels, 04/04/2016 (Agence Europe) - At the fourth nuclear security summit in Washington on Friday 1 April, from which Russia, Iran and North Korea were conspicuous by their absence, the leaders of 52 countries - led by the United States, China, France and the United Kingdom, plus the EU - agreed to reinforce international cooperation against the threat of nuclear and radiological terrorism.
“The threat of nuclear and radiological terrorism remains one of the greatest challenges to international security, and the threat is constantly evolving”, begins the final joint communique of the summit held in Washington against the backdrop of an incessant wave of terrorist attacks across the planet, perpetrated by jihadist groups such as Islamic State/Daesh, and in the wake of information regarding a possible radioactive 'dirty bomb' attack (EUROPE 11522).
On Friday, the participating countries reaffirmed their “commitment” to their “shared goals” of nuclear disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and the peaceful use of nuclear energy, whilst stressing that measures aiming to reinforce nuclear security should not hinder the rights of states to develop and use nuclear power for peaceful ends, but at the same time it stressed the “fundamental responsibility” of states to maintain “at all times” the “effective security” of all nuclear and other radioactive material, including those used in nuclear weapons, and of the nuclear facilities under their control.
Since they were first held in 2010, the nuclear security summits have led to increased awareness of the threat of nuclear and radiological terrorism and brought about “many tangible, significant and permanent improvements” in nuclear security, yet “more work remains to be done to prevent non-state actors from obtaining nuclear and other radioactive materials, which could be used for malicious purposes”, the communique stresses. To this end, the 52 countries represented in Washington undertook to “foster a peaceful and stable international environment by reducing the threat of nuclear terrorism and strengthening nuclear security”.
The leaders of these countries also agreed on the need for enhanced international cooperation to tackle the threat of nuclear terrorism. “Countering nuclear and radiological terrorism demands international cooperation, including sharing of information in accordance with States' national laws and procedures. International cooperation can contribute to a more inclusive, coordinated, sustainable and robust global nuclear security architecture for the common benefit and security of all”, they stress.
They also reaffirmed the “essential responsibility and the central role” of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in strengthening the global nuclear security architecture and in developing international guidance, as well as in coordinating nuclear security activities. They went on to stress their “determination” to strengthen nuclear security at all levels - national, regional and international. (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)