VIENNA, MARCH 28 – Nearly six years since entry into force of the 2005 Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM), the IAEA is hosting the first conference to review its implementation and its adequacy. “We are gathered for a significant milestone in international nuclear security: for the first time the Parties to the Amendment to the CPPNM, now numbering 129, are reviewing the implementation and the adequacy of the only legally binding undertakings covering the physical protection of nuclear material and facilities,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi in his opening remark: “As nuclear is growing in importance and nuclear material becomes more prevalent, we need faster universalization of the Amendment and faster implementation of both the Treaty and the Amendment”.
The Italian Permanent Representative to the International Organizations in Vienna, Ambassador Alessandro Cortese highlighted Italy’s commitment in nuclear security and commended Grossi’s efforts to coping with nuclear facilities in Ukraine
in the critical situation determined by the Russian aggression.
The A/CPPNM provides the tools needed to protect nuclear facilities, as well as nuclear material in domestic use, storage and transport; moreover, it can help ensure that anyone involved in criminal acts involving nuclear material is denied safe haven and brought to justice. During the weeklong conference, the delegations will share their experiences in the implementation of the A/CPPNM, including steps taken to ensure robust physical protection of nuclear facilities and nuclear material, efforts taken to increase international cooperation, and actions implemented to criminalize offenses involving nuclear material or facilities.
Side events organized on the margins of the Conference will also provide an opportunity for further discussion of different aspects of nuclear security and the Convention as amended. The CPPNM currently has 164 Parties. There are still 35 Parties to the original Convention that have not yet joined the Amendment. Twenty-nine States have not yet joined the original Convention or the Amendment.(@OnuItalia)
