2010 Nuclear Security
Summit National Commitment Implementation: Steps in the Fight Against Nuclear
Terrorism
US-KOREA INSTITUTE AT
SAIS
Michelle Cann
March 2012
Reviewing, advancing,
and building on the progress that countries have made implementing these commitments
are among the main objectives of the second summit to be held in Seoul,
Republic of Korea in March 2012
At the 2012 summit,
countries are expected to again issue additional, voluntary national statements
(called “house gifts” by summit planners), and some may join together to offer
regional or multilateral commitments (“gift baskets”). In advance of the Seoul
Summit, this paper provides an overview of the steps that countries have taken
to implement the voluntary, national commitments detailed in the 2010 White
House highlights document and the US national statement
but many were
facilitated by the momentum created by the NSS process. (2010 Washington
Nuclear Security Summit (NSS))
In short, countries
have made commendable progress implementing their national commitments from the
2010 summit … However, it is also worth noting that summit participants have
been unable to agree on a common format for tracking and reporting on their
implementation of the 2010 summit consensus document and national
commitments.
a common tracking and
reporting format would provide a more comprehensive and transparent picture of
efforts to live up to the commitments made at the 2010 summit and, more
broadly, the state of the global nuclear material security regime
(DO- comprehensive,
transparent, and consistent across countries and evenly in each area at
domestic level)
In short, an accurate
assessment of how states have lived up to their summit commitments requires an
evaluation of the full scope of principles and objectives discussed at the
summit.
Why?
While nuclear security
may be a national responsibility, deficiencies in one state’s system can have international
ramifications
largely
nationally-focused and without binding international standards or reporting
mechanisms
Reporting at the
summit could also feed into the work of other international initiatives working
to prevent nuclear terrorism through collaboration, such as the Global
Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT), G-8 Global Partnership against
the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction (Global Partnership),
and the 1540 Committee.
it is difficult to see
how states will be able to credibly and comprehensively demonstrate their
achievements (DO- verification)
the difficulty of
retroactively assessing progress without establishing a common tracking format
This report is another
nongovernmental effort to provide transparency in tracking the actions taken by
countries to improve their nuclear material security but its scope is limited
to 2010 NSS national commitments.
Research results have
been organized into the following nine categories:
1. International
Conventions
2. Removing and
Securing HEU and Plutonium
3. Reactor Conversions
and Shutdowns
4. New IAEA
Cooperation
5. New Centers,
Conferences, and Training Support
6. New National Laws
7. Global Initiative
to Combat Nuclear Terrorism
8. Preventing Nuclear
Smuggling
9. G-8 Global
Partnership
1. International
Conventions
International
Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT),
Convention on the
Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM),
The CPPNM is the only
legally binding international instrument with physical protection requirements
for nuclear materials
2. Removing and
Securing HEU and Plutonium
the use and management
of nuclear materials and facilities
consolidation of storage
sites and removal and disposition of fissile materials no longer in use
Chile completed its
national commitment to eliminate all 18 kg of HEU from the country ahead of the
Washington. The Chilean operation was particularly
challenging due to an 8.8 magnitude earthquake off its coast during the
shipment preparations on February 27
3. Reactor Conversions
and Shutdowns
the conversion of
HEU-fueled reactors to LEU in the communiqué and work plan as part of efforts
to minimize the use of HEU
HEU and separated plutonium
are particularly sensitive materials
Russia fulfilled its
national commitment to end plutonium production by shutting down the ADE-2 reactor
in Zheleznogorsk
4. New IAEA
Cooperation
The essential role
that the IAEA plays in advancing nuclear security .. the valuable services and
guidance materials the agency offers
5. New Centers,
Conferences, and Training Support
the importance of the
human dimension of nuclear security. They describe the need for continuing
education and for the sharing of best practices among knowledgeable peers.
6. New National Laws
enforce effective national
laws and regulations to keep materials secure as well as to criminalize any
misuse or misconduct
7. Global Initiative
to Combat Nuclear Terrorism
8. Preventing Nuclear
Smuggling
9. G-8 Global
Partnership
