Federation Council to consider Amendment to Convention on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material

08.07.2008 // Press Service Department of Rosatom SC

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 Amendment is aimed at enhancing the efficiency of international cooperation in counteracting terrorism and at ensuring the stability of the global nuclear safety system. The Amendment was adopted in Vienna in July 2005 and is supposed to strengthen the regime of physical protection and to extend its force over nuclear facilities and operations with nuclear materials inside countries.

The Amendment says that the Convention shall cover only peaceful nuclear materials and nuclear facilities and that each state shall be responsible for the physical protection of nuclear materials and nuclear facilities available in its territory.

The document toughens responsibility for violation of the safety regime. Particularly, it enlarges the list of offences in the field of nuclear safety adding to it such crimes as trafficking of nuclear material and action against nuclear facility.

None of the crimes specified in Article 7 of the Convention shall be regarded as political and none shall entail refusal to extradite the criminals. In fact, the amendment is based on the principle “aut dedere aut judicare” (extradite or prosecute).