Lithuania and Jordan share experience in combating illicit trafficking in nuclear and other radioactive material
On the margins of the International Conference on Nuclear Security: Commitments and Actions, which was organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Lithuania in cooperation with Jordan organized a discussion on “Combating Illicit Trafficking in Nuclear and Other Radioactive Material” on 8 December in Vienna.
The event was attended by representatives from the Radiation Protection Centre of Lithuania, the Nuclear Security Centre of Excellence, the Lithuanian State Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate, speakers from Jordan, as well as a guest of honor – the Senior Director for Weapons of Mass Destruction, Terrorism, and Threat Reduction on the U.S. National Security Council Andrea Hall. The discussion was moderated by the Director of the Transatlantic Cooperation and Security Policy Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Renatas Norkus.
According to Norkus, the International Atomic Energy Agency reported 2,889 cases of illicit trafficking in nuclear and other radioactive material in 2016, which demonstrates the need for the international community to cooperate actively on the implementation of measures ensuring nuclear safety.
The interlocutors expressed hope that the event would provide support and help to attract new countries to sign the Nuclear Security Summit 2016 statement on cooperation in the sphere of nonproliferation and nuclear security.
Despite the cultural, historical and geographical differences between Lithuania and Jordan, the participants of the meeting shared valuable experience and discussed the existing nuclear security architecture, legal instruments, enforcement measures and safety training.
On 5-9 December, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is holding an International Conference on Nuclear Security: Commitments and Actions in Vienna. The event continues the Nuclear Security Summit process, in which Lithuania actively participated and supported its objectives. This is already the second international conference on nuclear security. The first conference was held in 2013.
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