"Nuclear threats go beyond the borders of states. A disaster or a terrorist act in one country can have painful consequences for the whole region. Therefore, every country must take all necessary steps to ensure nuclear security and a reliable protection of radioactive materials and infrastructure, to safely operate nuclear power plants and to apply international nuclear safety standards to them. These are very serious commitments not only to national security but also to that of people around the world," the President said.
Lithuania implements its commitments responsibly and contributes actively to the formation of global nuclear security practice. Our country has voluntarily joined international initiatives designed to combat the smuggling of radioactive materials and improve the protection of nuclear resources. The Nuclear Security Center of Excellence in Medininkai provides expert analysis and trains officials from the whole region. Advanced technologies are in place in Lithuanian airports and at the border to help detect radioactive materials and prevent their proliferation in EU and NATO territories. Our country engages in the activities of the International Contact Group, set up on the initiative of the United States, which aims at promoting regional cooperation between countries.
The President also emphasized that transparency and nuclear safety were an integral part of nuclear security. Therefore, it is essential that countries developing nuclear technologies cooperate with each other in good faith and in a transparent way, provide information about their ongoing nuclear projects to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and neighboring states, and allow international inspectors to carry out the monitoring of nuclear facilities. According to Dalia Grybauskaitė, this is of special relevance to Lithuania as Belarus, which is building the Astravyets nuclear power plant at our border, provides no information about the security requirements, environmental impact assessments and security tests for this project, as well as denies access to IAEA observers.
At the end of the summit, leaders from 52 countries will approve a joint communiqué to highlight the IAEA's exceptional role in strengthening nuclear security and safety, define nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons as a permanent goal of the global community, and agree on cooperation in preventing nuclear terrorism and trying to ensure that radioactive materials do not fall into the hands of terrorists. Action plans will also be adopted for individual organizations – the UN, IAEA, Interpol, and other forums combating nuclear terrorism.
