Seoul Communique
Seoul Security Summit concludes with adopting joint communique
SEOUL (South Korea), March 27 The Seoul Nuclear
Security
Summit concluded here on Tuesday after adopting a comprehensive
agenda
to be followed in next two years to work together to reduce the
threat
of nuclear terrorism in the world.
According to the Seoul Communique issued following the
conclusion
of the summit, the world leaders renewed the political commitments
generated from the 2010 Washington Nuclear Security Summit to work
towards strengthening nuclear security, reducing the threat of
nuclear terrorism and preventing terrorists, criminals, or other
unauthorized actors from acquiring nuclear materials.
The leaders at the summit were of the view that the nuclear
terrorism continues to be one of the most challenging threats to
international security.
Defeating this threat requires strong national measures and
international cooperation given its potential global political,
economic, social, and psychological consequences, they added.
They reaffirmed shared goals of nuclear disarmament, nuclear
non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
They committed to seeking a safer world for all and share the
objective of nuclear security.
They recognized that the Nuclear Security Summit is a valuable
process at the highest political level, supporting joint call to
secure all vulnerable nuclear material in four years.
Following is the text of the joint communique:
"Seoul Communique
2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit
We, the leaders, gathered in Seoul on March 26-27, 2012, renew the
political commitments generated from the 2010 Washington Nuclear
Security Summit to work toward strengthening nuclear security,
reducing the threat of nuclear terrorism, and preventing terrorists,
criminals, or other unauthorized actors from acquiring nuclear
materials. Nuclear terrorism continues to be one of the most
challenging threats to international security. Defeating this threat
requires strong national measures and international cooperation
given its potential global political, economic, social, and
psychological consequences.
We reaffirm our shared goals of nuclear disarmament, nuclear
nonproliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
Committed to seeking a safer world for all, we also all share the
objective of nuclear security. We recognize that the Nuclear
Security Summit is a valuable process at the highest political
level, supporting our joint call to secure all vulnerable nuclear
material in four years. In this regard, we welcome the substantive
progress being made on the political commitments of Participating
States since the Washington Summit.
We stress the fundamental responsibility of States, consistent with
their respective national and international obligations, to maintain
effective security of all nuclear material, which includes nuclear
materials used in nuclear weapons, and nuclear facilities under
their control, and to prevent non-state actors from acquiring such
materials and from obtaining information or technology required to
use them for malicious purposes. We likewise recognize the
fundamental responsibility of States to maintain effective security
of other radioactive materials.
We reaffirm that measures to strengthen nuclear security will not
hamper the rights of States to develop and utilize nuclear energy
for peaceful purposes.
Noting the essential role of the International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA) in facilitating international cooperation and supporting the
efforts of States to fulfill their nuclear security
responsibilities, we further stress the importance of regional and
international cooperation, and encourage States to promote
cooperation with and outreach activities to international partners.
Noting the Fukushima accident of March 2011 and the nexus between
nuclear security and nuclear safety, we consider that sustained
efforts are required to address the issues of nuclear safety and
nuclear security in a coherent manner that will help ensure the safe
and secure peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
We will continue to use the Washington Communiqueé and Work Plan as
a basis for our future work in advancing our nuclear security
objectives. At this Seoul Summit, we agree that we will make every
possible effort to achieve further progress in the following
important areas.
Global Nuclear Security Architecture
1. We recognize the importance of multilateral instruments that
address nuclear security, such as the Convention on the Physical
Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM), as amended, and the
International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear
Terrorism (ICSANT). We therefore encourage the universal
adherence to these Conventions. We urge states in a position to do
so to accelerate their domestic approval of the 2005 Amendment to
the CPPNM, seeking to bring the Amendment into force by 2014. We
acknowledge the important role of the United Nations (UN) in
promoting nuclear security, support the UN Security Council
Resolutions 1540 and 1977 in strengthening global nuclear security,
and welcome the extension of its mandate. We will strive to use the
IAEA Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and Nuclear Facilities
(INFCIRC/225/Rev.5) document and related Nuclear Security Series
documents, and reflect them into national practice.
2. We recognize the contributions since the 2010 Summit of
international initiatives and processes such as the Global
Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT) and Global
Partnership against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of
Mass Destruction, within their respective mandates and memberships.
We welcome the wider participation in the GICNT and the Global
Partnership and value its extension beyond 2012. Noting the
importance of strengthening coordination and complementarily among
nuclear security activities, we welcome the proposal of the IAEA to
organize an international conference in 2013. We welcome
contributions from the industry, academia, institutes and civil
society that promote nuclear security.
Role of the IAEA
3. We reaffirm the essential responsibility and central role of the
IAEA in strengthening the international nuclear security framework,
and recognize the value of the IAEA Nuclear Security Plan 2010-2013.
We will work to ensure that the IAEA continues to have the
appropriate structure, resources and expertise needed to support the
implementation of nuclear security objectives. To this end, we
encourage States in a position to do so and the nuclear industry to
increase voluntary contributions to the IAEA's Nuclear Security
Fund, as well as in-kind contributions. We also encourage continued
IAEA activities to assist, upon request, national efforts to
establish and enhance nuclear security infrastructure through its
various support programs, and encourage States to make use of these
IAEA resources.
Nuclear Materials
4. Recognizing that highly enriched uranium (HEU) and separated
plutonium require special precautions, we reemphasize the importance
of appropriately securing, accounting for and consolidating these
materials. We also encourage States to consider the safe, secure and
timely removal and disposition of nuclear materials from facilities
no longer using them, as appropriate, and consistent with
national security considerations and development objectives.
5. We recognize that the development, within the framework of the
IAEA, of options for national policies on HEU management will
advance nuclear security objectives.
We encourage States to take measures to minimize the use of HEU,
including through the conversion of reactors from highly enriched to
low enriched uranium (LEU) fuel, where technically and economically
feasible, taking into account the need for assured supplies of
medical isotopes, and encourage States in a position to do so, by
the end of 2013, to announce voluntary specific actions intended to
minimize the use of HEU. We also encourage States to promote the use
of LEU fuels and targets in commercial applications such as isotope
production, and in this regard, welcome relevant international
cooperation on high-density LEU fuel to support the conversion of
research and test reactors.
Radioactive Sources
6. Taking into account that radioactive sources are widely used and
can be vulnerable to malicious acts, we urge States to secure these
materials, while bearing in mind their uses in industrial, medical,
agricultural and research applications. To this end, we encourage
States in a position to do so to continue to work towards the
process of ratifying or acceding to the ICSANT; reflect into
national practices relevant IAEA Nuclear Security Series documents,
the IAEA Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive
Sources and its supplementary document on the IAEA Guidance on the
Import and Export of Radioactive Sources; and establish national
registers of high-activity radioactive sources where required. We
also commit to work closely with the IAEA to encourage cooperation
on advanced technologies and systems, share best practices on the
management of radioactive sources, and provide technical assistance
to States upon their request. In addition, we encourage continued
national efforts and international cooperation to recover lost,
missing or stolen sources and to maintain control over disused
sources.
Nuclear Security and Safety
7. Acknowledging that safety measures and security measures have in
common the aim of protecting human life and health and the
environment, we affirm that nuclear security and nuclear safety
measures should be designed, implemented and managed in nuclear
facilities in a coherent and synergistic manner. We also affirm the
need to maintain effective emergency preparedness, response and
mitigation capabilities in a manner that addresses both nuclear
security and nuclear safety. In this regard, we welcome the efforts
of the IAEA to organize meetings to provide relevant recommendations
on the interface between nuclear security and nuclear safety so that
neither security nor safety is compromised.
We also welcome the convening of the High Level Meeting on Nuclear
Safety and Security initiated by the UN Secretary-General, held in
New York on 22 September 2011. Noting that the security of nuclear
and other radioactive materials also includes spent nuclear fuel and
radioactive waste, we encourage States to consider establishing
appropriate plans for the management of these materials.
Transportation Security
8. We will continue efforts to enhance the security of nuclear and
other radioactive materials while in domestic and international
transport, and encourage States to share best practices and
cooperate in acquiring the necessary technologies to this end.
Recognizing the importance of a national layered defense against
the loss or theft of nuclear and other radioactive materials, we
encourage the establishment of effective national nuclear material
inventory management and domestic tracking mechanisms, where
required, that enable States to take appropriate measures to recover
lost and stolen materials.
Combating Illicit Trafficking
9. We underscore the need to develop national capabilities to
prevent, detect, respond to and prosecute illicit nuclear
trafficking. In this regard, we encourage action-oriented
coordination among national capacities to combat illicit
trafficking, consistent with national laws and regulations. We will
work to enhance technical capabilities in the field of national
inspection and detection of nuclear and other radioactive materials
at the borders. Noting that several countries have passed export
control laws to regulate nuclear transfers, we encourage further
utilization of legal, intelligence and financial tools to
effectively prosecute offenses, as appropriate and consistent with
national laws. In addition, we encourage States to participate in
the IAEA Illicit Trafficking Database program and to provide
necessary information relating to nuclear and other radioactive
materials outside of regulatory control. We will work to strengthen
cooperation among States and encourage them to share information,
consistent with national regulations, on individuals involved in
trafficking offenses of nuclear and other radioactive materials,
including through INTERPOL's Radiological and Nuclear Terrorism
Prevention Unit and the World Customs Organization.
Nuclear Forensics
10. We recognize that nuclear forensics can be an effective tool in
determining the origin of detected nuclear and other radioactive
materials and in providing evidence for the prosecution of acts of
illicit trafficking and malicious uses. In this regard, we encourage
States to work with one another, as well as with the IAEA, to
develop and enhance nuclear forensics capabilities. In this regard,
they may combine the skills of both traditional and nuclear
forensics through the development of a common set of definitions and
standards, undertake research and share information and best
practices, as appropriate. We also underscore the importance of
international cooperation both in technology and human resource
development to advance nuclear forensics.
Nuclear Security Culture
11. Recognizing that investment in human capacity building is
fundamental to promoting and sustaining a strong nuclear security
culture, we encourage States to share best practices and build
national capabilities, including through bilateral and multilateral
cooperation. At the national level, we encourage all stakeholders,
including the government, regulatory bodies, industry, academia,
nongovernmental organizations and the media, to fully commit to
enhancing security culture and to maintain robust communication and
coordination of activities. We also encourage States to promote
human resource development through education and training. In this
regard, we welcome the establishment of Centers of Excellence and
other nuclear security training and support centers since the
Washington Summit, and encourage the establishment of new centers.
Furthermore, we welcome the effort by the IAEA to promote networking
among such centers to share experience and lessons learned and to
optimize available resources. We also note the holding of the
Nuclear Industry Summit and the Nuclear Security Symposium on the
eve of the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit.
Information Security
12. We recognize the importance of preventing non-state actors from
obtaining information, technology or expertise required to acquire
or use nuclear materials for malicious purposes, or to disrupt
information technology based control systems at nuclear facilities.
We therefore encourage States to: continue to develop and strengthen
national and facility-level measures for the effective management of
such information, including information on the procedures and
protocols to protect nuclear materials and facilities; to support
relevant capacity building projects; and to enhance cyber security
measures concerning nuclear facilities, consistent with the IAEA
General Conference Resolution on Nuclear Security (GC(55)/Res/10)
and bearing in mind the International Telecommunication Union
Resolution 174. We also encourage States to: promote a security
culture that emphasizes the need to protect nuclear security
related information; engage with scientific, industrial and academic
communities in the pursuit of common solutions; and support the IAEA
in producing and disseminating improved guidance on protecting
information.
International Cooperation
13. We encourage all States to enhance their physical protection of
and accounting system for nuclear materials, emergency preparedness
and response capabilities and relevant legal and regulatory
framework. In this context, we encourage the international community
to increase international cooperation and to provide assistance,
upon request, to countries in need on a bilateral, regional, and
multilateral level, as appropriate. In particular, we welcome the
intent by the IAEA to continue to lead efforts to assist States,
upon request. We also reaffirm the need for various public diplomacy
and outreach efforts to enhance public awareness of actions taken
and capacities built to address threats to nuclear security,
including the threat of nuclear terrorism.
We will continue to make voluntary and substantive efforts toward
strengthening nuclear security and implementing political
commitments made in this regard. We welcome the information on the
progress made in the field of nuclear security since the Washington
Summit provided by the participants at this Seoul Summit. The next
Nuclear Security Summit will be held in the Netherlands in 2014."
FALLOWING THIS DETAILS releas official spokesman Islamabad
No comments:
Post a Comment