IAEA members voice commitment to strengthening nuclear security

VIENNA, Dec 5 (KUNA) -- Fifty ministers of member states of UN nuclear watchdog, IAEA, voiced commitment to further strengthening nuclear security, including against illicit trafficking in nuclear or radioactive materials.
The ministers, adopting a Ministerial Declaration at the IAEA's International Conference on Nuclear Security Monday, welcomed advances made by IAEA member states in developing and enhancing their nuclear security regimes, as well as positive impact of IAEA's increasing nuclear security efforts.
They voiced concern about threats to nuclear security, and therefore committed to continuously maintaining and further strengthening nuclear security.
They underlined importance of keeping pace with evolving challenges and threats.
They also pledged to continue taking active steps to combat illicit trafficking of nuclear and other radioactive material, to protect and secure such material to ensure it could not be used by non-state actors in criminal or terrorist acts, and to continue efforts on their territories to prepare for recovering such material in case it has fallen out of regulatory control, taking into account relevant international instruments.
The ministers encouraged IAEA to continue efforts to promote its universalization, given its central role in facilitating and coordinating international cooperation on nuclear security.
The conference brought together some 2,000 participants from more than 130 member countries and 17 international, regional and non-governmental organizations. (end) amg.bs