Russian Response:  Atomic Energy Officials Meet, Discuss Security

Senior Russian Atomic Energy Ministry officials met Monday to discuss the security of Russian nuclear sites and facilities, according to Atomic Energy Minister Alexander Rumyantsev (see GSN, Oct. 30).

The meeting focused on the transportation of nuclear fuel to power plants both in Russia and abroad, according to ITAR-Tass.  The officials also discussed security measures at foreign nuclear power plants being built by Russian personnel, Rumyantsev said.  One such project is the Bushehr plant in Iran (see GSN, Oct. 22).

While Rumyantsev praised the ministry’s efforts to maintain security at Russian nuclear sites, he added that the recent Chechen takeover of a Moscow theater has prompted new security requirements.

The ministry’s security improvement effort “continues at all times and is well funded,” Rumyantsev said.  But “the latest developments in Moscow have forced the Russian nuclear industry to bring in considerably stricter requirements for the protection of Russia’s nuclear facilities” (German Solomatin, ITAR-Tass, Oct. 30 in FBIS-SOV, Oct. 30).

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U.S. Response:  Customs Strengthens Container Security Initiative

New regulations will require international shippers to provide information on U.S.-bound cargo 24 hours before the cargo is loaded at its port of origin, the U.S. Customs Service announced Wednesday (see GSN, Oct. 28).

The regulation stems from the Container Shipping Initiative to identify and investigate high-risk cargo before it reaches the United States.  U.S. authorities are trying to strengthen security at the country’s ports, especially from attacks or smuggling involving weapons of mass destruction.

“Terrorists pose an immediate and substantial threat to the global trading system.  This threat is not just to American lives, but to American livelihoods as well,” said Customs Commissioner Robert Bonner.  “With this rule, Customs can better protect the American people and the global trading system as a whole from the threat of nuclear terror using sea containers.”

The rule becomes effective 30 days after yesterday’s publishing, but the Customs Service has announced it will wait 60 days to begin enforcement (U.S. State Department release, Oct. 31).

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International Response:  China Agrees to Allow U.S. Inspectors at Ports

China has agreed in principle to join the U.S. Container Security Initiative, in which the United States is working to station its Customs Service inspectors at non-U.S. seaports, U.S. Customs Commissioner Robert Bonner said Friday (see GSN, Sept. 30).

“I am very pleased that the Chinese government has agreed in principle to join with the United States in the Container Security Initiative,” Bonner said in a press statement.  “This is an important step, not only for the protection of trade between the U.S. and China, but for the protection of the most critical component of the world trading system as a whole — containerized cargo.”

U.S. President George W. Bush and Chinese President Jiang Zemin announced China’s decision during their meeting Friday in Crawford, Texas, according to a Customs press release.  U.S. officials have already made arrangements to station inspectors at ports in Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Canada (U.S. Customs Service release, Sept. 25).

For further information, see:

Fact sheet on U.S. Container Security Initiative

U.S. Customs Container Security Initiative Information

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