

MEDIA RELEASE MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS ALEXANDER DOWNER

FA151           8  November  2004





REGIONAL COUNTRIES TO STRENGTHEN NUCLEAR CONTROLS

Regional countries today expressed their firm resolve to combat nuclear weapons  proliferation and the threat of nuclear terrorism.

At the Asia-Pacific Nuclear Safeguards and Security Conference in Sydney, participating  countries agreed to work together in a sustained and comprehensive effort to enhance the  nuclear safeguards and security framework.

Hosted by the Australian Government, the conference was attended by Ministers and their  representatives from regional countries and the Director General of the International Atomic  Energy Agency, Dr Mohamed ElBaradei.

The conference has served to give all participants a greater understanding of the threat posed  by nuclear proliferation among states and the emerging risks of nuclear terrorism.  These  threats cannot be ignored.

I welcome the statement issued by participating countries at the conclusion of the conference  outlining a range of agreed priorities (attached).

The statement emphasises that the highest international standards of nuclear safeguards and  security supports national and regional security.  They are also essential to realise the benefits  of nuclear energy.  As countries commit to international standards the incentive for all to meet  this best practice will be increased.

The conference statement will be circulated at the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)  Review Conference, to be held in New York in May 2005.

The conference was a practical example of Australia’s strong commitment to working with  Asia-Pacific countries to combat nuclear weapons proliferation and the emerging threat of  nuclear and radiological terrorism.  It showed again that Australia is ready to take the lead in  order to preserve regional peace and security.



Media inquiries:  Chris Kenny (Ministerial) 02 6277 7500     Justin Lee (Departmental) 6261 1555



















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Asia-Pacific Nuclear Safeguards and Security Conference:  Protecting Against Nuclear Terrorism

Ministerial Meeting, 8 November 2004, Sydney, Australia

Ministers  or  their  representatives  participating  in  the  conference  were  from  Australia,   Brunei  Darussalam,  Cambodia,  Canada,  People’s  Republic  of  China,  Republic  of  the   Fiji Islands, Republic of Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Lao People’s Democratic  Republic,  Malaysia,  New  Zealand,  Papua  New  Guinea,  The  Philippines,  Republic  of   Singapore, Thailand, United States of America and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Also  attending  the  conference  were  representatives  of  the  Democratic  Republic  of   Timor-Leste, France, Union of Myanmar, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, the  International Atomic Energy Agency and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.

The  meeting  recognised  that  a  strong  nuclear  safeguards  and  security framework  was   essential  to  realising  the  benefits  of  peaceful  use  of  nuclear  energy.   It  noted  that   effective nuclear safeguards and security measures were vital not only for countries with

nuclear  power  programs  or  research  reactors,  but  also  for  those  where  radioactive   materials are used for medical, industrial and scientific purposes.

The  meeting  identified  two  types  of  threat  to  nuclear  security:  the  proliferation  of   nuclear  weapons  among  states,  and  the  potential  for  terrorist  acts  involving  nuclear   facilities  and  nuclear  and  radioactive  materials.   It  noted  that  terrorist  groups  were   known to be interested in acquiring weapons of mass destruction and that nuclear and  radiological  terrorism  posed  potentially  grave  consequences  for  public  health,  the   environment, economic prosperity, and public confidence.  The meeting recognised that  nuclear  non-proliferation,  nuclear  disarmament  and  the  peaceful  uses  of  nuclear   technology were closely interrelated.

The  meeting  agreed  that  participants  work  together  in  a  sustained  and  comprehensive   effort  to  expand  and  enhance  the  nuclear  safeguards  and  security  framework.   It   identified the following priorities:

. Implementing  globally  the  IAEA’s  strengthened  safeguards  system  as  the   current safeguards standard under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear  Weapons  (NPT).   The  meeting  took  note  of  offers  of  assistance  with  the   conclusion and implementation of the Additional Protocol.

. Strengthening the protection of nuclear materials and facilities.  The meeting  supported early finalisation of work to strengthen the Convention on the Physical  Protection  of  Nuclear  Material  (CPPNM).   It  encouraged  wide  adherence  to  the   CPPNM,  the  Convention  on  Early  Notification  of  a  Nuclear  Accident,  the   Convention  on  Assistance  in  the  Case  of  a  Nuclear  Accident  or  Radiological   Emergency,  the  Convention  on  Nuclear  Safety  and  the  Joint  Convention  on  the   Safety  of  Spent  Fuel  Management  and  on  the  Safety  of  Radioactive  Waste   Management and other relevant international instruments and regulations.

. Ensuring  the  effective  control  and  protection  of  radioactive  sources,  consistent  with  their  safe  use.  The meeting encouraged early adherence to the  guidelines  in  the  IAEA  Code  of  Conduct  on  the  Safety  and  Security  of   Radioactive  Sources.   It  welcomed  the  Australian  Nuclear  Science  and   Technology  Organisation’s  regional  outreach  and  assistance  program  on  the



security of radioactive sources, and the IAEA Model Project to Upgrade National  Radiation Protection Infrastructures.

. Implementing  effective  domestic  controls  on  nuclear  and  radioactive   materials and relevant equipment and technology, including export controls.   The  meeting  considered  that  effective  domestic  controls  on  sensitive  materials,   equipment  and  technology,  including  trans-shipment  and  transit  measures,  were   all the more essential in light of known terrorist interest in acquiring WMD.  In  this  regard,  the  meeting  encouraged  action  on  a  harmonised  basis  in  accordance   with  the  IAEA  Guidance  on  the  Import  and  Export  of  Radioactive  Sources,  and   recognised the importance of the provisions of the Additional Protocol related to  the export and import of nuclear equipment.  It welcomed the assistance provided  by  regional  governments,  notably  Japan,  Australia  and  the  United  States,  on   strengthening of export controls and state systems of nuclear material accountancy  and control.

. Ensuring  effective  national  nuclear  security  capability,  including  technical   capacity  for  the  detection  of  illicit  trafficking  of  nuclear  and  radioactive   materials  and  relevant  equipment  and  technology.   The  meeting  noted  the   importance  of  regional  and  international  cooperation  on  preventing  illicit   trafficking  including  enhanced  information-sharing  and  technical  assistance.   It   recognised  the  value  of  cooperation  with  relevant  international  bodies  and  with   other  countries  in  strengthening  their  respective  national  institutions  where   necessary.

. Early and comprehensive implementation of UN Security Council Resolution  1540.   The  meeting  welcomed  UNSCR  1540  as  an  important  step  in  combating   the proliferation of WMD, in particular to non-state actors, and thus reducing the  risk  of  nuclear  and  radiological  terrorism.   It  noted  the  importance  of  providing   international  assistance  to  states  lacking  the  legal  and  regulatory  infrastructure,   implementation experience and/or resources to fulfil the resolution’s requirements.   The meeting acknowledged the call in UNSCR 1540 for states “…in accordance  with  their  national  legal  authorities  and  legislation  and  consistent  with   international  law,  to  take  cooperative  action  to  prevent  illicit  trafficking  in   nuclear …weapons, their means of delivery, and related materials.”  The meeting  also  noted  the  need  for  the  UNSCR  1540  Committee,  the  UNSC  Counter-Terrorism  Committee  and  the  IAEA  to  strengthen  cooperation  in  order  to  bring   their respective expertise into full play in a coordinated approach.

. Making effective use of the extensive IAEA assistance available in relation to  the  security  of  nuclear  and  radioactive  materials.   While  noting  that   responsibility in this area rests entirely with states, the meeting acknowledged the  IAEA’s  important  contribution  in  assisting  states  meet  appropriate  safety  and   security standards.





It was agreed that this statement be circulated at the NPT Review Conference, to be held  in New York in May 2005.

