Feature Stories
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- Reducing the Threat of Nuclear Theft and Sabotage, M. Bunn, G. Bunn, paper delivered at IAEA Symposium, 30 October 2001 [pdf file]
- NOTES & QUOTES
- Calculating the Threat: "An unconventional threat requires an unconventional response... we face a new dimension in the fight against terrorism." -- IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei
- The Global Front: "We must strengthen the global norm against the use or proliferation of weapons of mass desctruction." -- UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
- LINKS & RESOURCES
- About the Nuclear Threat Initiative
- Calculating the New Global Nuclear Terrorism Threat
- IAEA Outlines Measures
- IAEA General Conference Resolution on Nuclear Material Protection
- Multimedia
"Global Priorities" - IAEA Director General's views: Quicktime
or Real Player format-
"Concern, not Panic" - IAEA Director General on
CNN (27 October 2001): Quicktime
or Real Player format
- Read the transcript
- "Bridging the Gap" - IAEA Director General on CNN (8 November 2001) - Read the transcript
- IAEA Director General on BBC Radio (31 October 2001): - Read the transcript
- Reports & Background
- Nuclear Threat Initiative, global foundation
- IAEA General Conference Resolutions on Security of Nuclear Material and other topics
- Measures to Strengthen Radiation Safety, report to IAEA General Conference
- Measures to Improve the Security of Nuclear Material, report to IAEA General Conference
- Strengthening the IAEA Safeguards System, report to IAEA General Conference
- Security of Nuclear Material & Radioactive Sources, report on IAEA Conference
- Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons: The Road Ahead, speech by IAEA Director Genera l
"Concern,
not Panic"
IAEA Director General on CNN
Click
here to view the interview [Quicktime
or Real
Player]
Following is an
unofficial transcript of the Director General's CNN interview, which ran
on the weekend of 27 October 2001:
CNN: What is the Agency's mandate, especially in terms of what's happening now in the world?
Dr. ElBaradei: Our mandate is to make sure that nuclear energy is harnessed for social and economic purposes for the benefit of our Member States, but at the same time to make sure nuclear energy is used exclusively for peaceful purposes. That means not to be diverted for weapons purposes, and also to make sure that it is used at a high level of safety, so that we do not have a repeat of Chernobyl, for example.
CNN: What have you found in terms of what's happening in Afghanistan? Especially in that region, we have Pakistan, we have India, two potentially volatile areas. Should their nuclear energy be used in other ways?
Dr. ElBaradei: Of course, we are very concerned about nuclear security in light of the September attacks. I mean these have been unconventional threats that require unconventional responses. So we are looking at every direction. We are upgrading security at nuclear facilities, we are looking at emergency response, we are making sure there is no cross-border smuggling of nuclear material. We are doing all we can working with our system of Member States. But I should say that nuclear facilities are some of the most robust structures in the world. There's a lot of safety margins, a lot of concrete, and there are a lot of security measures around the nuclear facilities. So while we should be concerned, we should not be panicking.
CNN: So while you monitor it, how much control do you have over the States?
Dr. ElBaradei: We have control over States in terms of diversion for weapons purposes; for example, as with the situation in Iraq or any other countries. We have a global system of verification that applies everywhere except in the weapons States plus India, Pakistan, and Israel. These are the only eight countries outside our purview. But everywhere else we have a jurisdiction to make sure that nuclear material is not diverted for weapons purposes. We also provide safety services to ensure through work with States to upgrade security measures at all nuclear facilities, that safety is maintained at a high level, that there is no smuggling of nuclear material across borders. And I think we are making good headway.
CNN: Is the international community doing enough in terms of protecting everyone?
Dr. ElBaradei: I think they have been doing enough -- until the 11th of September. But I think we need to do much more. The 11th of September was frankly a wake-up call for everybody, not only in the area of nuclear technology but every other technology. We need to upgrade security everywhere, to make sure this will not be repeated, and, if there were to be any other attack, that we have a good and adequate response.