Anatoly Abalov, Director of Department for Protection of State Secret and Information of Rosatom SC

– Ratification of the Amendment by the Federal Council will raise the efficiency of the global nuclear safety system to a new level

On July 8 the Federation Council Committee on Defense and Safety examined and recommended for approval the Amendment to the Convention of Physical Protection of Nuclear Material

On July 11 the Federation Council will consider the Amendment to the Convention on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material approved by the State Duma on July 2.

The Convention on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (Oct 26 1979) is a basic universal international agreement regulating the measures for ensuring the safety of nuclear materials. The Amendment to the Convention was adopted in Vienna in July 2005.

The ratification of the Amendment by the Federal Council will raise the efficiency of the global nuclear safety system to a new level. Based on the Amendment, Rosatom will draft a target program envisaging a whole complex of measures for protection of nuclear material: guarantees against nuclear terrorism and contraband of nuclear materials; stage-by-stage improvement of the system of physical protection of nuclear materials during transportation; improvement of the systems of physical protection of nuclear facilities, etc..

I think that the practical implementation of these principles will substantially enhance the efficiency of the physical protection of nuclear materials, strengthen the opposition to new challenges and threats and reinforce the nonproliferation regime.