Officials from Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States met last week to discuss measures to prevent terrorists from obtaining nuclear weapons, the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration announced (see GSN, Oct. 13).
The workshop was one of a series of meetings scheduled between the United States and Russia following the July Joint Statement on Nuclear Security signed by President U.S. Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitryi Medvedev, according to a press release.
The two-day session in Paris went over physical protection and other leading practices for preventing terrorists from acquiring nuclear materials and arms. It involved officials from the U.S. nuclear agency, the British Defense Ministry and the Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation.
"This workshop is an example of the high level of cooperation between our nations as we work together to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and to keep these weapons out of the hands of terrorists," said NNSA defense nuclear security head Brad Peterson in the release. "We are reconfirming our commitment to working together to prevent this nightmare scenario from becoming reality."
This is only the second time that the three nations have conducted a workshop to discuss best practices in nuclear security (U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration release I, Oct. 16).
On Friday, the U.S. nuclear agency also provided medical training in Vienna, Austria, for dealing with a radiation event. The training was attended by medical professionals from 20 countries at the headquarters of the International Atomic Energy Agency, a press release states.
Personnel received instructions on procedures for curtailing the spread of radioactive material during the treatment and movement of patients. Officials from the U.N. nuclear watchdog , France and Brazil provided context for the instructions by reviewing real-life radiological incidents.
"The breadth of our experience working in nuclear security over the past 60 years enables us to prepare other professionals for such incidents," said Joseph Krol, NNSA associate administrator for emergency operations, in a press release. "By working with the IAEA to share that expertise with other countries, we strengthen overall global preparedness" (U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration release II, Oct. 16).