30 November 2001

Abraham Remarks to IAEA on Nuclear Security

U.S. Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham has urged the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to expand its role in ensuring the physical security of nuclear materials as part of the global fight against terrorism.

In remarks delivered November 30 to the IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna, Austria, Abraham praised the agency's "robust system of inspections" as vital to international security, but added that the IAEA should take additional steps as soon as possible to keep nuclear materials secure.

Abraham said the IAEA can help member states assess their physical security requirements through its International Physical Protection Advisory Service. He said the international community must ensure nuclear material is not only accounted for, but is well protected, reducing the likelihood that it can be stolen or misused.

He said the IAEA can also work with member states to monitor the trafficking of illicit materials more effectively, and support efforts by the United States and other member states to strengthen border defenses.

Abraham announced that the United States would provide a contribution of $1.2 million to help enhance IAEA's role in combating terrorism.

Following is the text of Abraham's remarks:

Mr. Director General, Delegates, Members of the Board,

It's an honor to be here today. A great deal has happened since I was here in September, just six days after the terrorist attacks in my country.

We have seen the establishment of a global coalition against terrorism. Under the leadership of President Bush, that coalition has moved decisively to eradicate a threat that challenges every civilized nation. The attacks of September 11 were an attack on all civilized countries, whose consequences are like a tidal wave causing economic and human suffering around the world, especially in the developing world. The consequences of nuclear terrorism would be even more devastating to the world and countries that depend on international trade - to say nothing of the affect on public confidence in the safety of peaceful nuclear activities ranging from power to the eradication of insects.

In September, speaking at the IAEA General Conference, I said "preventing terrorist acts underlies our continuing and robust support for this Agency. We know our security, and that of nations around the world, is bolstered by what this Agency does to prevent the proliferation and misuse of nuclear and other radioactive materials."

This Agency's work remains vital to the global war on terrorism. The IAEA and its members are a key part of the coalition against terrorism. The work the Agency does to deny nuclear material and radioactive sources to terrorist and state sponsors of terrorism is an integral part of our effort to stem the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

The IAEA and its robust system of inspections is vital to international security. That pivotal role was acknowledged by Presidents Bush and Putin during the recently concluded U.S.-Russian summit. They reaffirmed their commitment to keeping dangerous materials out of the hands of those like Osama bin Ladin, who would not think twice about using them against any of us. The two Presidents declared that "urgent attention must be given to improving the physical protection and accounting of nuclear materials of all possessor states, and preventing illicit trafficking."

In furtherance of this commitment, I held a series of meetings in Moscow this week with my Russian counterpart and colleague, Minister of Atomic Energy Alexander Rumyantsev. In addition to agreeing to accelerate and expand U.S. - Russian cooperation in protecting nuclear material, we also agreed to work together toward more effective international support of our two Presidents' call for action. To that end, we will coordinate our efforts with other countries and with the IAEA to improve the protection of fissile nuclear material and thereby strengthen international security. We specifically discussed the essential role of the IAEA in this regard.

Today, though, I want to discuss how this Agency can help meet those important objectives which we believe are shared by the entire international community. It is the view of the United States that, consistent with the Director General's recent report, the IAEA can and must continue to make a significant contribution to keeping nuclear materials secure.

The U.S. welcomes the Director General's report as a significant contribution to our efforts to chart a course on addressing the dangers of inadequately protected or controlled nuclear materials and other radioactive sources. We agree with his conclusion that "the Agency urgently needs to enhance its efforts, in co-operation with the States, to narrow the gap between the threat that now exists and the measures that are currently in place." Under the strong leadership of Director General El Baradei, this report -- and the conference on terrorism that preceded it -- demonstrate the degree to which the IAEA is uniquely poised to provide leadership and moral authority on the vexing challenge that now confronts us.

There are many areas where the IAEA can help further the global fight against terrorism. Beyond implementation of its vital safeguards responsibilities, there are other steps the IAEA can and should take as soon as possible. The Agency's efforts need to be multi-dimensional, drawing on all of its capabilities to integrate new priorities into the Agency's core mission.

Consistent with the recommendations in the Director-General's report, the U.S. sees an expanded role for the IAEA in ensuring the physical security of nuclear materials. The international community has no greater responsibility than to ensure this material is not only accounted for, but is well protected, and thus reducing the likelihood that it can be stolen, or misused.

Here, there is much that can be done. For example, the IAEA can help member states assess their physical security requirements through its International Physical Protection Advisory Service. We need to greatly increase the number and scope of these missions, follow up their recommendations, build appropriate action plans, and expand training.

The IAEA can also work with member states to track illicit materials trafficking more effectively. In this regard, the United States is looking to expand our support to the IAEA nuclear smuggling database that we helped to establish. IAEA efforts should complement bilateral efforts, and focus on those countries and facilities not yet receiving adequate bilateral assistance. In all these undertakings, the Agency will no doubt continue to ensure that information it develops to identify vulnerabilities and steps proposed to remedy them are handled with the highest degree of confidentiality.

Another thing we can all do is work to revise and strengthen the Convention for the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material. We view this as an urgent matter.

The IAEA can also support efforts by the U.S. and other member states to strengthen border defenses - the so-called "second line of defense." The IAEA can help member states identify, inventory, and control radioactive sources, thus reducing the risk associated with these sources.

The U.S. continues to be a strong supporter of the Agency's technical cooperation program which is fundamental to the Agency's objectives. The TC program can and should play an important role in the Agency's overall approach to fighting nuclear terrorism. We believe the TC program can provide services and assistance to member states that will both promote sustainable development and the safe, secure use of nuclear and radioactive materials. In addition, IAEA efforts in these areas will serve as an important and valuable complement to bilateral assistance. An important aspect and central to coordination efforts, would be the development of a data base of IAEA and donor country assistance for strengthening systems to protect and track or secure nuclear or radioactive materials.

These are examples of the priority steps the IAEA can take now.

I recognize that full engagement on these initiatives is not without cost. It is clear that the Agency will need to reflect new priorities in its planning. So will we. For our part the United States is undertaking a fundamental review of all aspects of our approach to IAEA funding, and the Agency's needs, including all aspects of the budget issue. We will report to you as soon as possible the results of this effort.

I am also pleased to announce that the United States will provide an extrabudgetary contribution of $1.2 million to match the Nuclear Threat Initiative's generous offer of $1.2 million to help enhance the IAEA's role in combating terrorism. We look forward to working with the IAEA to determine the specific allocation of this funding to programs in physical protection, nuclear trafficking, and radiation source management. We urge others to meet the needs for immediate funding.

Nearly fifty years ago, the world looked to the IAEA for leadership and is doing so again today. I am confident that the IAEA will fulfill its fundamental mission of ensuring the peaceful uses of the nuclear and radioactive applications for the benefit of all mankind. But today new responsibilities are also demanded. If history is a guide, the international community is in good hands.

Thank you very much.