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At the UN Secretary General’s High-Level Meeting on Countering Nuclear Terrorism Lithuania emphasized that the global challenge of nuclear terrorism must be tackled by a set of international, regional and national measures and presented the Nuclear Security Centre of Excellence that was established in Medininkai, Lithuania, this year (statement and Powerpoint presentation available).

Powerpoint presentation of the Nuclear Security Center of Excellence.

Full text of the statement: 

Statement by the Republic of Lithuania

at the UN Secretary General’s High-Level Meeting

on Countering Nuclear Terrorism

28 September 2012, New York

Mr. Chairman,

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

With a longstanding experience in developing peaceful and safe nuclear energy Lithuania strongly supports an ambitious task to increase nuclear security and secure all vulnerable materials around the world. Therefore we warmly welcome the initiative by the Secretary General to convene this high level meeting aiming to reinforce global efforts to prevent nuclear terrorism.

The global challenge of nuclear terrorism must be tackled by a set of international, regional and national instruments. Lithuania ratified international conventions and treaties related to nuclear security, including Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials, as well as its Amendment. We actively participate in Proliferation Security Initiative and Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism and joined the European Safeguards Research and Development Association. Lithuania also works with partners on a basis of bilateral initiatives, such as implementation of the Joint Action Plan and a number of concrete projects with the United States in combating nuclear smuggling. Finally, we have passed the relevant national legislation to implement the reinforced international regime of physical protection of nuclear materials and facilities, as well as designated responsible institutions to implement the Convention.

At this point I would like to encourage all Member States that have not yet done so to adhere to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials and its Amendment, as well as the International Convention on the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism as soon as possible.

Lithuania considers the Security Council Resolution 1540 as one of the most important universal instruments to address proliferation threats. We should acknowledge that the threat, which led to the unanimous adoption of this resolution, still exists and the risk that non-State actors could acquire weapons of mass destruction has not disappeared. Therefore obligations set out in resolution 1540 must be of primary importance for all States, not only for those that possess nuclear, chemical, biological, radiological materials.

Preventing trafficking in nuclear materials, technologies and know-how is extremely important. Lithuania welcomes momentum created by the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul in promoting cooperation to this end. The summit underscored that nuclear security and safety measures need to be designed, implemented and managed in a coherent manner as they both have a common aim to protect the people and the environment. We are looking forward to the IAEA Nuclear Security Conference next summer.

Mr. Chairman,

This year, keeping to its commitment assumed at the Nuclear Security Summit, Lithuania established the Nuclear Security Centre of Excellence in order to contribute to international efforts in securing nuclear materials and preventing illicit trafficking.

The vision of the Centre is to serve as the capacity building and training venue for Lithuanian institutions responsible for the prevention, detection, response and investigation of nuclear and radiological smuggling. The Centre aims to become regional, first of all accommodating Nordic-Baltic potential and providing training and exchange of best practices for all interested countries.

The Centre closely cooperates with International Atomic Energy Agency. The Centre is already a member of the International Network for Nuclear Security Training and Support Centres. In the near future the IAEA is planning to conduct several national training courses in the Centre that include training of front-line border control officers, introduction to nuclear forensics, a course on radiological crime scene management and a workshop on the essential elements of nuclear security.

Using this opportunity I would like to stress that Lithuania is open to cooperation and would encourage Partner countries to use the basis of the Centre of Excellence for developing and implementing joint training projects, as well as outreach initiatives which would strengthen nuclear security regionally and worldwide.

More information about the Centre is available in a leaflet at the back of the room.