Radiological Weapons:  G-8 Plans Action on Securing Radioactive Materials

By Mike Nartker
Global Security Newswire

EVIAN, France — The Group of Eight today released an action plan designed to improve the security of radioactive sources that could be used by terrorists to create “dirty bombs” worldwide.

The G-8 leaders here expressed support for an International Atomic Energy Agency effort to improve the safety and security of radioactive sources (see GSN, March 14).  To help those efforts, the G-8 has agreed to consider helping the IAEA in the event of a radiological accident or act of terrorism, and possibly to aid IAEA preventive measures.

G-8 members have also begun aiding countries considered the most vulnerable to radioactive material theft to securely manage all radioactive sources on their territory, including searching for and securing uncontrolled sources, according to the action plan. 

The G-8 today also pledged to begin a long-term review of measures to prevent the theft of radioactive sources.  Two measures being considered, according to the action plan, include political commitments by countries to uphold the principles of safe and secure radioactive material management and the identification of the most effective measures identified by the IAEA.  These measures could include the creation of national registers for radioactive sources, national legislation to punish the theft of such sources and national physical protection measures, the action plan says.

The G-8 praised the success of the March International Conference on Security of Radioactive Sources in Vienna, and supported a French proposal to hold a similar conference in France in the first half of 2005.

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Conference on Disarmament:  Arab, Islamic Nations to Snub Israel-Led Talks

Several Arab and Islamic countries have decided to sit out U.N.-sponsored talks on disarmament because Israel has assumed the conference’s presidency, according to a report in today’s Washington Times (see GSN, May 21).

Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Reza Alborzi, who serves as coordinator of delegates to the talks from member states of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, sent a letter to conference participants Friday noting that OIC nations would not participate as long as Israel chairs the meeting, the Times reported.  Israel, which is not a part of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, will hold the post for one month.

“It was a fairly low-key protest.  They could have made more noise,” said a Western ambassador who claimed the OIC’s action was merely symbolic (John Zarocostas, Washington Times, May 29).

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