U.S.-Russia Joint Fact Sheet on the Global Initiative To Combat Nuclear Terrorism

Below is the text of a joint United States and Russia Fact Sheet on the Global Initiative To Combat Nuclear Terrorism.   

• The Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism will enhance cooperation between and build the capacity of all willing partner nations to combat the global threat of nuclear terrorism. This cooperation will include determined and systematic efforts to: 
  • improve accounting, control, and physical protection of nuclear material and radioactive substances, as well as security of nuclear facilities; 
  • detect and suppress illicit trafficking or other illicit activities involving such materials, especially measures to prevent their acquisition and use by terrorists; 
  • respond to and mitigate the consequences of acts of nuclear terrorism;
  • ensure cooperation in the development of technical means to combat nuclear terrorism; 
  • ensure that law enforcement takes all possible measures to deny safe haven to terrorists seeking to acquire or use nuclear materials; 
  • to strengthen our respective national legal frameworks to ensure the effective prosecution of, and the certainty of punishment for, terrorists and those who facilitate such acts.
    
• Presidents Bush and Putin have committed to combating the threat of nuclear terrorism and pursuing the necessary steps with other willing partner nations to combat nuclear terrorism.

“Over the last two years, a great coalition has come together to defeat terrorism and to oppose the spread of weapons of mass destruction -- the inseparable commitments of the war on terror…Terrorists and terror states are in a race for weapons of mass murder, a race they must lose.  Terrorists are resourceful; we're more resourceful. They're determined; we must be more determined. We will never lose focus or resolve. We'll be unrelenting in the defense of free nations, and rise to the hard demands of dangerous times.

 “The greatest threat before humanity today is the possibility of secret and sudden attack with chemical or biological or radiological or nuclear weapons...What has changed in the 21st century is that, in the hands of terrorists, weapons of mass destruction would be a first resort -- the preferred means to further their ideology of suicide and random murder. These terrible weapons are becoming easier to acquire, build, hide, and transport. Armed with a single vial of a biological agent or a single nuclear weapon, small groups of fanatics, or failing states, could gain the power to threaten great nations, threaten the world peace…America, and the entire civilized world, will face this threat for decades to come. We must confront the danger with open eyes, and unbending purpose. I have made clear to all the policy of this nation: America will not permit terrorists and dangerous regimes to threaten us with the world's most deadly weapons."  -- President George W. Bush, February 11, 2004

“Our shared task is to create a united front in the struggle against this evil. Any attempts to instigate terrorism, accommodate terrorists, or use terrorists for political means or goals must meet general condemnation…On behalf of our countries, we have just signed the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism.  As you know, Russia was the initiator of this document and we thank our partners for their support. The result of this teamwork is an effective legal tool to prevent real threats, such as terrorist use of weapons of mass destruction.” -- President Vladimir Putin, September 15, 2005

• The U.S. and Russia have invited initial partner nations to attend an initial meeting to elaborate and endorse a Statement of Principles for this Initiative.  The U.S. and Russia have also invited the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to serve as an observer.
• The International Convention on the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism is an important, although not the exclusive, legal basis for the work of the Initiative.  Other important legal bases include the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and Nuclear Facilities, and UN Security Council Resolutions 1373 and 1540, as well as national legal authorities.
• The activities of the Initiative should include national efforts and could include inter alia multinational exercises, expert-level meetings to share best practices, and the provision of assistance from those nations in a position to offer such assistance to those nations requiring it.
• Taking into account the global character of the Initiative, the participants will seek to mobilize the largest possible number of nations to improve national capabilities to combat nuclear terrorism.  To this end, both agree that outreach to related industries and the public is necessary to effect the full implementation of the Initiative.
• In launching this Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism, both the U.S. and Russia reaffirm their commitment to non-proliferation while promoting legitimate cooperation in peaceful nuclear activities for the prosperity of all nations.
• The Initiative will not address issues related to safeguarding nuclear weapons and other nuclear facilities, installations, and materials used for military purposes remain strictly the national prerogative of the nuclear weapons state parties to the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty (NPT), for which they bear special responsibility.

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