By Mike Nartker
Global Security Newswire

Members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, an export control regime that establishes guidelines for nuclear transfers, agreed Dec. 13 in Vienna to amend guidelines to strengthen efforts against nuclear terrorism, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a press release yesterday (see GSN, Oct. 28).

The added provisions, which the United States proposed last year after the Sept. 11 attacks, urge suppliers of nuclear materials and equipment to consider the risks of goods being diverted to terrorist groups and nuclear weapons programs, a U.S. State Department official said today.  The provisions also encourage group members to enhance physical protection of nuclear materials and to support safeguarding activities of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the official said.

The 40 group members negotiated over the new changes smoothly, the official said, adding that the language of the new provisions is to be forward to the IAEA for publication.

Group members also agreed last week to support the IAEA board of governors’ recent resolution concerning North Korea and its alleged nuclear weapons program, the Russian Foreign Ministry said (see related GSN story, today).  The resolution calls on North Korea to continue to comply with its IAEA safeguards agreement and to provide the agency with information on its alleged uranium enrichment program.

For further information, see:

Nuclear Suppliers Group Web site

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