Global Security Newswire

Representatives to a 75-nation partnership were set to meet today in the Netherlands for a two-day conference on preparing for and preventing acts of nuclear terrorism, the U.S. State Department announced (see GSN, Oct. 20, 2008).

International Atomic Energy Agency, European Union and Interpol representatives were expected to join envoys from state participants in the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism.

The group has carried out more than 30 workshops, meetings and drills focused on nuclear terrorism detection, prevention and response (U.S. State Department release, June 15).

The six-nation Shanghai Cooperation Organization today announced its intention to support the partnership, ITAR-Tass reported.

A statement issued by the group also praised the recent establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free-zone in Central Asia (see GSN, March 23; ITAR-Tass, June 16).