Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Nuclear security conference opens in London

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

London, March 16, IRNA
Nuclear Security-UK Conference
An international conference on nuclear security opened in London Wednesday to foster a better understanding and awareness of "future threats involving the malicious use of nuclear or other radioactive materials."
The three-day program, organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is being hosted by the British government as part of its activities under the G8 Global Partnership during its presidency this year of the G8 industrial countries.

Former chairman of the US Senate Armed Services Committee, Sam Nunn was delivering a keynote address on 'The race between cooperation and catastrophe: Reducing the global nuclear threat." The European Vision of Nuclear Security was also been presented by Annalisa Gianella, the personal representative to the EU's foreign policy supremo, Javier Solana, on weapons of mass
destruction.

Other speakers included US energy undersecretary Linton F. Brooks and Ambassador Yukiya Amano of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as policy makers and technical experts from around the world.

The program aims to review the achievements and shortcomings of international efforts to strengthen nuclear security, explore how the international nuclear security regime is adapting and reach a common understanding to better respond to nuclear terror threat.

Speaking ahead of the conference, Nunn said he hoped that the G8 summit later this year under the British presidency would lead to an increased commitment.

Particular concern has been expressed about the surety of around 30,000 nuclear weapons and the material to build 80,000 more in the former Soviet Union following the end of the Cold War.

HC/1412
::IRNA No.061 17/03/2005 15:49 --End