U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns, shown in May, yesterday called for new U.N. Security Council sanctions against Iran for refusing to halt its uranium enrichment efforts (Prakash Singh/Getty Images). U.S. Calls for New U.N. Nuclear Security Council Sanctions on Iran U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns yesterday urged nations on the U.N. Security Council to press forward with a third set of sanctions on Iran for the country’s controversial nuclear activities, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, Sept. 19). Burns said the United States was “pursuing peaceful diplomacy” and called for Tehran to comply with U.N. Security Council demands, warning that the “responsibility lies with Iran to choose negotiations.” “We are going ahead to try to sanction Iran again, and we hope very much to have the support of Russia and China and the other countries in the council for that,” he said.  “We have very strong support of France and Britain in this respect.” Burns said he plans to meet tomorrow with representatives from the other permanent members of the U.N. Security Council “to look at the elements of a third resolution.”..Full Story

Group Reports Additional Texas Biosafety Mishaps The Sunshine Project watchdog group has uncovered laboratory accidents involving anthrax and other disease agents at three University of Texas sites, the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy reported yesterday (see GSN, Sept. 7)...Full Story

India Remains Deadlocked Over U.S. Nuclear Deal Indian communists met for a second time with members of India’s ruling Congress party yesterday to review their grievances about a pending nuclear trade agreement with the United States, Agence France-Presse reported (see GSN, Sept. 19)...Full Story

	Thursday, September 20, 2007

U.S. House Approves Terrorism Insurance Expansion The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill yesterday that would greatly increase the federal program intended to aid private insurers if terrorists carry out a major attack in the United States, the New York Times reported (see GSN, June 6). The legislation, approved by a 312-110 vote, would require insurance policies on casualties and commercial property damage to cover losses from terrorist attacks involving biological, chemical, radiological or nuclear weapons.  Such coverage is generally now not included in most insurance policies. The bill would add 15 years to the existing terrorism risk insurance program that is set to end in December, expand the program to include group life insurance and cover damage from terrorist attacks by U.S. citizens as well as nationals of other countries. While lauding the House decision, insurance industry groups expressed their opposition to the WMD damage provision. “This provision undermines the intent of the program, reduces consumer choice and would leave more Americans and our economy unnecessarily exposed to the financial devastation from a terrorist attack,” said Ben McKay, a lobbyist for the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America. The Senate is expected to soon consider the bill, the Times reported.  U.S. President George W. Bush has threatened to veto the legislation, arguing that it expands and extends what was intended to be a short-term program. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the program could add $3.5 billion to the national deficit in five years and $8.4 billion over the next decade. “The most efficient, lowest-cost and most innovative methods of providing terrorism risk insurance will come from the private sector,” the White House said in a Monday statement. Representative Barney Frank (D-Mass.), who wrote the legislation, contests such claims. “There are in our midst people who believe in the free market so firmly that they believe in it the way other people believe in unicorns,” he said (Stephen Labaton, New York Times, Sept. 20). Back to top       German Minister Proposes Counterterrorism Provisions Germany’s justice minister proposed legislation Tuesday that would outlaw acquiring, producing or storing deadly weapons agents for use in a terrorist attack, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, March 2). If it becomes law, the provision put forward by Justice Minister Brigitte Zypries would cover biological, chemical and radiological weapons agents under a new offense of “preparing an act of violence.”  The offense would be punishable by as much as 10 years in prison. The proposal includes a separate offense against downloading or posting online “instructions for an act of violence,” such as a guide to building a weapon of mass destruction.  The offense would be punishable by up to three years in prison (Geir Moulson, Associated Press/Google News, Sept. 18). Back to top

U.S. Calls for New U.N. Nuclear Security Council Sanctions on Iran U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns yesterday urged nations on the U.N. Security Council to press forward with a third set of sanctions on Iran for the country’s controversial nuclear activities, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, Sept. 19). Burns said the United States was “pursuing peaceful diplomacy” and called for Tehran to comply with U.N. Security Council demands, warning that the “responsibility lies with Iran to choose negotiations.” “We are going ahead to try to sanction Iran again, and we hope very much to have the support of Russia and China and the other countries in the council for that,” he said.  “We have very strong support of France and Britain in this respect.” Burns said he plans to meet tomorrow with representatives from the other permanent members of the U.N. Security Council “to look at the elements of a third resolution.” “All countries should do their best … to sanction Iran on their own according to their laws,” he said.  “I think all of us believe that a diplomatic solution is preferable and the sanctions are a very important instrument” (Selcan Hacaoglu, Associated Press I/International Herald Tribune, Sept. 19). U.S. officials are expected to argue for punishing Iran with the new sanctions because the country has not heeded U.N. Security Council demands in resolutions passed in December 2006 and March that it stop uranium enrichment activities, which ultimately could yield a nuclear bomb ingredient, the Christian Science Monitor reported. “The 90 days (specified in the March resolution) for Iran to respond or face further action have come and gone, and then some, so we're working on moving forward on the sanctions,” said Richard Grenell, spokesman for the U.S. mission to the United Nations, adding that a third resolution would be the logical response for Iran’s refusal to heed international demands. German officials have expressed reservations about new sanctions, however, sources told the Monitor.  While Germany is not a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council and cannot vote on enacting new resolutions, the country has played an important role in Europe’s diplomacy with Iran and any European Union sanctions on Iran would require Germany’s approval. Some analysts have said that the international community could be ensnared for months in discussions over new sanctions on Iran because France has joined the United States in taking an aggressive stance against the country. “I just don't see anything happening soon,” said one U.N. official close to the Security Council.  The new work plan between Iran and the U.N. nuclear watchdog — intended to answer questions about Tehran’s nuclear activities — poses another complication, he said (Howard LaFranchi, Christian Science Monitor, Sept. 20). The Security Council panel tracking sanctions under the two resolutions has received reports from more than 80 nations, the U.N. News Service reported.  Fifteen nations since June reported having penalties in place, while another four countries addressed existing or planned measures (U.N. News Service, Sept. 19). Russian officials have stated their opposition to new sanctions, AP reported yesterday. “We can expect certain members of the sextet to come out with a suggestion that the Security Council adopt — maybe even in the nearest future — a new, sensational resolution in connection with Iran's nuclear program,” said  Vitaly Churkin, Russian ambassador to the United Nations. “We can adopt one sensational resolution after another — every week even — but the question is whether this brings progress toward resolving this extraordinarily complex problem,” he said. Churkin did not rule out the option of new sanctions entirely, noting that the previous two U.N. resolutions called on the Security Council to return to the issue if Iran continued enrichment efforts. “All this must lead to a resolution of the problem through political and diplomatic means, and not to increasing tensions — whether by adopting a new resolution of a sensational nature or, even more so, with discussions or the development of plans, God forbid, for military action against Iran,” he said (Steve Gutterman, Associated Press II/International Herald Tribune, Sept. 19). Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that Russia opposed new sanctions and urged the Security Council not to interfere with Iran’s recent cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, AP reported. “We believe that the Security Council should not be pressured to step outside the framework of support for the IAEA,” Lavrov said, also cautioning countries against taking military action or enacting independent sanctions against Iran for its refusal to halt its disputed nuclear activities (Associated Press I). Tehran, meanwhile, said it would respond strongly to any attack, AP reported. “We have drawn up a plan to strike back at Israel with our bombers if this regime (Israel) makes a silly mistake," Gen. Mohammad Alavi, deputy air force commander, said in an interview with state media. White House spokeswoman Dana Perino criticized the comment. It “is not constructive and it almost seems provocative,” she said.  “Israel doesn’t seek a war with its neighbors.  And we all are seeking, under the U.N. Security Council resolutions, for Iran to comply with its [Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty] obligations” (Ali Akbar Dareini, Associated Press III/Washington Post, Sept. 19). Back to top       India Remains Deadlocked Over U.S. Nuclear Deal Indian communists met for a second time with members of India’s ruling Congress party yesterday to review their grievances about a pending nuclear trade agreement with the United States, Agence France-Presse reported (see GSN, Sept. 19). The sides did not reach any compromises in the talks, and they agreed to gather again in October. “The discussions were constructive and will continue at the next meeting of the committee,” said Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who had led a 15-member panel in an attempt to forge consensus on the nuclear deal (Agence France-Presse I/Google News, Sept. 19). Meanwhile, U.N. nuclear watchdog officials met with Indian officials in Vienna yesterday during the general conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency, AFP reported. “There was a bilateral meeting between agency officials and the Indians. It was the normal sort of meeting that member states would have,” said one diplomat (Agence France-Presse II/Google News, Sept. 19). India made no new progress with the agency on establishing inspections of civilian nuclear plants, one of the requirements of the deal with the United States, Reuters reported.  In his meeting yesterday with IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei, Indian Atomic Energy Commission chief Anil Kakodkar did not raise the issue, diplomats said. “A new safeguards accord was not mentioned in the bilateral meeting.  It seems the Indians must resolve their domestic situation first.  They did not ask the agency to start drafting an agreement,” said a high-level diplomat close to the U.N. nuclear watchdog. On Oct. 8, ElBaradei plans to travel to India for five days, an agency official said.  Although the trip was scheduled before the IAEA safeguards agreement emerged as a political obstacle in India, ElBaradei is still expected to hold discussions with senior Indian officials (Reuters/Straits Times, Sept. 20). Meanwhile, U.S. officials in Vienna are expected to brief the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group on the U.S.-India agreement today in an effort to win the organization’s endorsement for the deal, the Press Trust of India reported. The United States is expected to make a case for why the organization of nuclear exporters should make a special exception to allow nuclear trade with India even though the country has not signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (Press Trust of India I/The Hindu, Sept. 20). Kakodkar said he expects U.S. officials to negotiate a “clean, unconditional” exemption for India to engage in nuclear trade, the Press Trust of India reported. The organization is expected to discuss a potential Indian exemption at a future meeting in Japan. Kakodkar, who met earlier this week with U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman, acknowledged that the United States expects India to pursue IAEA safeguards negotiations but called talks with the Nuclear Suppliers Group the responsibility of U.S. officials. “Everyone in the nuclear community wants this to be carried out — sooner the better,” he said (Press Trust of India II/Indian Express, Sept. 19). Back to top       Russia to Prepare LEU Fuel Reserves Russia’s international uranium enrichment center at Angarsk is readying to provide reserves of up to $300 million of low-enriched uranium fuel for nuclear power reactors, RIA Novosti reported Tuesday (see GSN, June 5). “Russia intends to establish guaranteed reserves of up two loads of nuclear fuel (low-enriched uranium) for a 1,000 [megawatt] reactor,” Russian nuclear chief Sergei Kiriyenko said during the International Atomic Energy Agency general conference in Vienna. One fuel load costs roughly $150 million for a pressurized water reactor. The center in East Siberia is intended to provide reactor fuel for other countries’ energy needs, allowing those nations to forgo developing the nuclear fuel cycle that could also be used to produce nuclear weapons.  The facility would supply low-enriched uranium fuel, which cannot be used in nuclear weapons, based on requests from the U.N. nuclear watchdog. “Our proposal to create guaranteed reserves of low-enriched uranium at the international center in Angarsk will be a step towards establishing the next-generation nuclear energy infrastructure,” Kiriyenko said (RIA Novosti, Sept. 18). Back to top       U.S., Jordan Sign Civilian Nuclear Accord The United States has agreed to help Jordan develop its nuclear energy capabilities, the Associated Press reported Monday (see GSN, May 18). U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman signed the memorandum of understanding with Jordanian Scientific Research Minister Khaled Toukan during the International Atomic Energy Agency governing board meeting in Vienna. The pact says “the two countries will work together to develop requirements for appropriate power reactors, fuel service arrangements, civilian training, nuclear safety, energy technology and other related areas,” the U.S. Embassy said in a statement. Toukan said in August that by 2030, 30 percent of Jordan’s energy would come from nuclear power sources.  The surge in power production would make Jordan a supplier of energy for other countries, a study by his ministry found. As Iran continues to confront the West over its controversial nuclear activities, which U.S. officials and others suspect are aimed at nuclear weapons development, Jordan and other predominantly Sunni Arab nations have moved to develop civilian nuclear programs. Jordan has signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and has urged countries in the Middle East to eliminate WMD stockpiles (Associated Press/CBS News, Sept. 17). Back to top

Group Reports Additional Texas Biosafety Mishaps The Sunshine Project watchdog group has uncovered laboratory accidents involving anthrax and other disease agents at three University of Texas sites, the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy reported yesterday (see GSN, Sept. 7). Personnel at the University of Texas at San Antonio failed to wear gloves or respirator protection on April 12 when they entered a Biosafety Level 3 tularemia laboratory, according to a document obtained by the Sunshine Project through the Texas Public Information Act.  There was no research occurring at that time and the laboratory had been decontaminated the night before.  The workers, sent into the laboratory to fix air filters, apparently received antibiotics from their doctors and suffered no ill effects.  The school reported the incident to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. On May 7, liquid from vials containing anthrax bacteria leaked inside a Biosafety Level 3 laboratory at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, CIDRAP reported.  Documents obtained by the Sunshine Project indicated that laboratory workers possibly exposed to the aerosolized form of anthrax were given vaccine boosters and placed under monitoring.  There were no known infections and the university reported the incident to the Centers for Disease Control. Both anthrax and tularemia are designated as Category A bioterrorism agents. There were also at least four known cases of infection by the Category B agent shigella among University of Texas at Austin laboratory personnel between 2002 and 2005, according to the Austin American-Statesman and the Sunshine Project.  The workers all recovered, but the university failed to adequately investigate or report the incidents, the newspaper reported. These reports follow a number of incidents at Texas A&M University that led the federal government to halt biodefense research at that school. “What we are witnessing in Texas is not bad luck, it is the crumbling of the biodefense lobby’s safety façade,” Sunshine Project head Edward Hammond, who has called for increased federal monitoring of biodefense laboratories, said in a press release (Lisa Schnirring, Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, Sept. 19). Meanwhile, the Associated Press reported that a scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison had received approval to conduct Ebola research in a facility with a lower security level than mandated for such work. Yoshi Kawaoka was studying material that could be used in the production of the Ebola virus.  Federal guidelines state Ebola-related research must be done in a highest-security Biosafety Level 4 laboratory, but a university committee allowed him to work in a BSL-3 facility.  The research did not involve the actual Ebola virus.  It was halted following a warning from the National Institutes of Health and has since been moved to a more secure laboratory in Canada, university officials said. “It’s more of a technical violation than a safety violation.  No one was at risk,” said university biological safety officer Jan Klein.  “It was a matter of how you read the guidelines.  NIH took a broader read of the guidelines than we were aware of and using” (Ryan Foley, Associated Press/Wisconsin State Journal, Sept. 19). Back to top

Russia Might Improve Azeri Radar Russia yesterday suggested it would be willing to make improvements to a radar base it leases in Azerbaijan to make the facility usable for U.S. missile defense efforts, Bloomberg reported (see GSN, Sept. 19). Moscow has proposed the Azeri site and another radar in southern Russia as alternatives to Washington’s plan to deploy a radar in the Czech Republic and 10 missile interceptors in Poland.  However, the deputy head of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency said this week after inspecting the Gabala base that the radar there could be too old to use. “President [Vladimir] Putin has suggested the modernization of Gabala, should it be needed for the implementation of his proposal,” said spokesman Dmitry Peskov (Bloomberg/New York Sun, Sept. 20). Azeri Foreign Minister Araz Azimov yesterday expressed concern about making the Gabala radar a component of a joint U.S.-Russian missile defense program, the Associated Press reported. “Possible U.S.-Russian cooperation on the Gabala radar station will elevate the strategic importance of that facility, but, at the same time, it will increase the threat to Azerbaijan and therefore the issue of security guarantees for Azerbaijan will become increasingly important,” he said. Meanwhile, the Russian military chief of staff claimed yesterday to possess proof that the U.S. missile shield for Europe is aimed at his nation rather than Iran. “The missile defense system being created today in Europe is specifically aimed against Russia.  I am prepared to prove this with figures and diagrams,” said Gen. Yuri Baluyevsky (Aida Sultanova, Associated Press, Sept. 19). Back to top

New York Issues Police Radiation Sensors Police officers in upstate New York are receiving hand-held radiation sensors to help them detect possible radiological “dirty bombs,” the Associated Press reported Tuesday (see GSN, Sept. 11). “The detection and interdiction of illicit radiological material is a new component of policing in today's world,” acting State Police Superintendent Preston Felton said during a demonstration of the sensors with David Sheppard, director of the state Homeland Security Office. The portable detectors are designed to distinguish between dangerous levels of radiation that might be emanating from a weapon, other radiation sources such as medical equipment and materials and isotope fluctuations that occur in nature. “Whatever it may be, we can determine in a fairly short period of time what it is,” Felton said. The detectors, which cost about $1,500 each, were funded through grants distributed by New York’s Homeland Security Office.  So far, New York City police officers have received more than 900 of the radiation sensors.  About 450 of the detectors are expected to be distributed to upstate police agencies.  The sensors were first given to law enforcement officials in western New York, an area thought to be a possible terrorist target because of local industries and stadiums as well as the nearby U.S.-Canadian border. The sensors are expected to replace older, less accurate detection gear.  Law enforcement officials plan to deploy them during traffic patrols and at major events such as Buffalo Bills football games (Carolyn Thompson, Associated Press/Newsday, Sept. 18).   Back to top

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