New efforts to strengthen global nuclear security (Part 1)
18/7/16
With the participation of representatives from
over 50 countries, the Nuclear Security Summit 2016 reaffirmed its commitment
at the highest levels to securing nuclear materials and fighting nuclear
terrorism. This aims to establish nuclear security architecture at global
level.
1. Initiative and initial results
The Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) was
initiated by US President Obama after he took office in 2009. This has been the
largest forum on global nuclear security since the UN’s establishment (1945),
aiming at seeking international cooperation in nuclear disarmament, controlling
and preventing proliferation of nuclear materials. Under the theme: “peace and
security of a world without nuclear weapons”, since 2010, four NSSs have been
held. The NSS 2016 is the last one of a series of summits for controlling fissile
materials, namely highly enriched uranium (HEU) and plutonium. According to
international experts, though NSS was the U.S. initiative, its purposes are not
totally the same as those of the NSS. In fact, the U.S. aims are to deter and
knock out its rivals who purposely challenge its unique position in the world.
However, as nuclear security and threats have become a global matter, this
initiative has drawn attention of many countries and international community.
It was clearly reflected in the first Summit held in April 2010 which 47
countries and 3 organizations participated. In the second Summit held in March
2012, a part from leaders of 53 countries, there were representatives from the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the European Union (EU), the UN, and
the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL). Moreover, there have
been new developments in contents of these summits. The first Summit affirmed
commitments of each country and the international community to fighting nuclear
terrorism, strengthening international cooperation in securing all vulnerable
nuclear materials worldwide, and non-influence of nuclear security activities
to the rights of states that use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. The
third Summit focused on issues, namely nuclear disarmament, nuclear
non-proliferation, use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, strengthening
nuclear security, minimizing the risk of nuclear terrorism and stressing the
necessity for further encouraging cooperation in nuclear security. The NSS has
brought about hundreds of commitments. 12 countries have completely stopped
using HEU. Dozens of nuclear materials facilities worldwide have improved their
security system. This is a considerable effort of the international community
to seek measures to control the use of nuclear materials and maintain
international security.
All comments [ 3 ]
As far nuclear security, in particular, is concerned, we could not do our jobs without the innovative systems and equipment which industrial engineers and scientists are constantly developing to enable all of us to counter nuclear terrorism.
The process has fostered international cooperation that has delivered tangible improvements to global nuclear security and reduced the threat of nuclear terrorism.
Just as one way countries pledge their commitments to enhance nuclear security is by providing "gift baskets" to the Summit
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