[NY Times article below]
UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. nuclear chief called Monday for the United Nations to consider putting all production of weapons-usable uranium and plutonium around the world under international control to limit "the increasing threat" posed by countries and terrorists.
Mohamed ElBaradei
Head of the UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Mohamed ElBaradei cited the "serious and immediate challenge" posed by North Korea's withdrawal from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, the urgent need to determine the full extent of Iran's nuclear program, lingering questions about Iraq's nuclear efforts, and illegal trafficking in radioactive material.
In his annual report to the 191-nation General Assembly, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said recent events have put the existing international regime to control the spread of nuclear weapons "under growing stress."
The time has come, he said, "to resolve to pursue whatever actions are required, including new ways of thinking and unconventional approaches, to ensure that nuclear energy remains a source of hope and prosperity, and not a tool for self-destruction."
With information and expertise on how to produce nuclear weapons "much more accessible" than when the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty was being negotiated in the 1960s, ElBaradei said it has become far more important to control access to highly enriched uranium and plutonium, which are the key ingredients.
"In light of the increasing threat of proliferation, both by states and by terrorists, one idea that may now be worth serious consideration is the advisability of limiting the processing of weapon-usable material ... in civilian nuclear programs as well as the production of new material through reprocessing and enrichment — by agreeing to restrict these operations exclusively to facilities under multinational control," he said.
"Weapon-usable" can be lower grade uranium that is enriched to make weapons-grade uranium.
Outlining the major nuclear challenges, ElBaradei said the IAEA has not been able to perform any inspections in North Korea since December "and cannot therefore provide any level of assurance about the non-diversion of nuclear material."
"We have continued to emphasize the need for a comprehensive settlement of the Korean crisis through dialogue, and it is my hope that the six-party talks would lead to such a settlement," he said.
North Korea said last week that it will consider a U.S. offer of multilateral security assurances for ending its nuclear program, sparking hopes of further negotiations. The North has been insisting on a formal nonaggression treaty with the United States, which Washington rejects.
Under pressure from the IAEA board, Iran recently handed over what it said was a complete declaration of its nuclear activities, and ElBaradei said inspectors are in the process of verifying that dossier.
He noted that Iran has also expressed its intention to sign an additional protocol to the nonproliferation treaty giving IAEA inspectors unfettered access to its nuclear facilities, "which is a key to our ability to provide comprehensive assurance" that its nuclear program is peaceful. (Wire reports)
source: http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=news&cat=8&id=277789 4nov03
UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 3 — The director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, citing the growing threat of nuclear terrorism, urged the United Nations on Monday to consider imposing multinational control over the production of nuclear material that could be used in weapons.
"Information and expertise on how to produce nuclear weapons has become much more accessible," the official, Mohamed ElBaradei, said in an address to the General Assembly. "This places extra emphasis on the importance of controlling access to weapon-usable nuclear material."
The proposal, if adopted, would amount to a major overhaul of the current nuclear regime, established by the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, which permits signers to handle their nuclear fuel under international inspection.
The treaty, which entered into force in 1970, was intended to limit the spread of nuclear technology and material. Nations that were not already nuclear powers agreed to refrain from developing nuclear weapons in return for help with their nuclear energy or nuclear medicine programs. At the time the treaty was negotiated, there was less concern that rogue states, terrorists groups and individuals might be able to obtain highly enriched uranium and plutonium, the crucial ingredients for nuclear weapons.
"Recent events have made it clear that the nonproliferation regime is under growing stress," Mr. ElBaradei warned. He pointed to the "serious and immediate challenge" posed by North Korea, which has pulled out of the nonproliferation treaty, and to the uncertainties about nuclear programs in Iran and Iraq.
One idea that may now be worth serious consideration is the advisability of limiting the processing of weapon-usable material by restricting it exclusively to facilities under multinational control, he said.
This new approach could also apply to "the management and disposal of spent fuel and radioactive waste," he said, adding that spent fuel is stockpiled and awaiting reprocessing in more than 50 countries.
The proposal could well rankle countries like Japan that have nuclear programs but insist they will not develop nuclear weapons and are not suspected of conducting secret programs. Japan has a nuclear fuel program and says it will not use it to make weapons.
It is not clear how Mr. ElBaradei's proposal would affect the five nations — the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China — with nuclear weapons programs that predated the treaty.
On the threat posed by North Korea, Mr. ElBaradei said that in the absence of inspections there, the agency cannot "provide any level of assurance about the nondiversion of nuclear material."
As for Iran, Mr. ElBaradei said he planned to report to the agency this month following current inspections there. Iran is under international pressure to prove that it is not building nuclear weapons.
At the General Assembly meeting on Monday, Iran's ambassador here, Javad Zarif, said Tehran would accept the terms of an additional protocol to the nonproliferation treaty that would permit surprise inspections.
Mr. ElBaradei, in his speech on Monday, also insisted that inspectors from his agency and the United Nations be permitted to return to Iraq "to provide ongoing assurance that activities related to weapons of mass destruction have not been resumed." Renewed inspections would "bring the weapons file to a closure," he said.
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