28 Sep 2012

UN / NUCLEAR TERRORISM

The consolidation of strong international mechanisms is vital to combat nuclear terrorism, senior United Nations officials stressed today (28 September), warning that countries must urgently act to tackle one of today's most serious global threats. UNTV

Posted at: September 28, 2012 12:53 pm

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STORY: UN / NUCLEAR TERRORISM
TRT: 2.17
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE 
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 28 SEPTEMBER 2012, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

SHOTLIST:

RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

1.	Wide shot, exterior United Nations Headquarters

28 SEPTEMBER 2012, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

2.	Zoom in, General Assembly
3.	Med shot, delegates
4.	SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General:
"The prospect of terrorists acquiring nuclear materials is one of the most unnerving threats imaginable. Yet some have already stated their hopes of obtaining nuclear weapons. Still others may be working in the shadows to achieve this goal. We must use all our tools to contain this nuclear genie. As we confront other challenges relating to nuclear disarmament, we cannot allow these arms to proliferate to non-State actors or terrorists."
5.	Med shot, delegates
6.	SOUNDBITE (English) Yukiya Amano, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA):
"Terrorists will exploit the weakest link in any security system. The challenge is global, so the response must be global. The IAEA has global reach and has been making a significant contribution in nuclear security for more than 10 years. Strengthening our activities in this area will remain one of the Agency's key priorities."
7.	Med shot, delegates
8.	SOUNDBITE (English) Marty M. Natalegawa, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia:
"The ultimate guarantee against the misuse of nuclear energy is actually the realization of a nuclear weapon free world. Without nuclear weapons there can be no nuclear terrorism. Then, there can only be peaceful use of nuclear energy for the welfare of humankind."
9.	Med shot, delegates
10.	Zoom out, General Assembly
11.	Med shot, meeting Co-chairs
12.	SOUNDBITE (English) Ali Akbar Salehi, Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran:
"Measures and initiatives aimed at strengthening nuclear safety and nuclear security must not be used as a pretext or leverage to violate, deny or restrict the inalienable right of developing countries to develop, research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination."
13.	Med shot, meeting Co-chairs

STORYLINE:

Secretary-General Ban-ki Moon told a high-level meeting on countering nuclear terrorism, held on the margins of the 67th session of the General Assembly that "the prospect of terrorists acquiring nuclear materials is one of the most unnerving threats imaginable."

Ban said "all our tools" must be used to contain "this nuclear genie" and not allow "these arms to proliferate to non-State actors or terrorists."

The Secretary-General noted that countries have already taken steps to address this threat, namely through the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism and Security Council resolution 1540.

The Director General of the UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Yukiya Amano, said international cooperation is vital, and reiterated the IAEA's readiness to help countries improve nuclear safety and its role in coordinating international efforts on nuclear security.

Amano said "terrorists will exploit the weakest link in any security system" and added "the challenge is global, so the response must be global."

The IAEA Director General encouraged countries to work with the IAEA to establish networks of nuclear security support centres and improve nuclear security. In addition, he urged countries to take part in the International Conference on Nuclear Security, which will take place in Vienna next July.

Marty M. Natalegawa, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, which recently ratified the nuclear Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) told the meeting that "the ultimate guarantee against the misuse of nuclear energy is actually the realization of a nuclear weapon free world," adding that "without nuclear weapons there can be no nuclear terrorism."

At a panel discussion on the same issue, the Foreign Minister of Iran, Ali Akbar Salehi, said "measures and initiatives aimed at strengthening nuclear safety and nuclear security must not be used as a pretext or leverage to violate, deny or restrict the inalienable right of developing countries to develop, research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination."

The International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, which has been ratified by 82 States, enhances international cooperation to prevent nuclear terrorism and to prosecute and punish perpetrators of such acts. Resolution 1540 imposes binding obligations on all States to establish controls preventing the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, and their means of delivery.