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Summit agrees to secure nuclear materials in four years

13 April 2010 22:52 (UTC +04:00)

The unprecedented gathering met the challenge posed by President Barack Obama who said the world was littered with poorly guarded fissile material that militant groups could use to build a horrific weapon.
"We welcome and join President Obama’s call to secure all vulnerable nuclear material in four years, as we work together to enhance nuclear security," the leaders said in a joint communique due to be released shortly and seen by AFP.
They outlined measures to combat nuclear trafficking, including sharing information and expertise in detection, forensics and law enforcement.
The leaders said they "recognize the need for cooperation among states to effectively prevent and respond to incidents of illicit nuclear trafficking."
They also underlined that the "essential role" in combating nuclear proliferation rests with the UN watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.
At the same time, the summit participants said increased security must "not infringe upon the rights of states to develop and utilize nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and technology."
Hosting the largest summit in the United States for more than six decades, Obama also pressed China to back UN sanctions against Iran over its controversial nuclear power program.
Amid mixed signals from Beijing, Chinese President Hu Jintao told the summit that Beijing "firmly" opposes atomic weapons proliferation, while backing civilian uses.
On what are commonly referred to as loose nukes, Obama pressed his guests "not simply to talk, but to act."
"Nuclear materials that could be sold or stolen and fashioned into a nuclear weapon exist in dozens of nations," Obama said.
He said radioactive material just "the size of an apple" would be enough to kill thousands of people.
"Terrorist networks such as Al-Qaeda have tried to acquire the material for a nuclear weapon, and if they ever succeed, they would surely use it," Obama said.
"It would be a catastrophe for the world -- causing extraordinary loss of life, and striking a major blow at global peace and stability," the US president said.
Mexico gave Obama’s initiative a boost Tuesday by agreeing to give up weapons-grade uranium. Ex-Soviet Ukraine and Canada on Monday made similar pledges, as did Chile earlier.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced plans to spend up to 2.5 billion dollars to dispose of plutonium from its massive defense program.
The two-day gathering also saw Obama meet privately Monday with Hu over Iran’s nuclear program, which Washington says is masking a secret bomb-making drive.
The United States is pushing for new UN sanctions against Iran, which insists it has no military program, but needs nuclear power.
The support of China, a big economic partner of Iran and also a veto-wielding member of the UN Security Council, is crucial to the US plan.
On Tuesday, China’s foreign ministry reaffirmed its long-held skepticism about the need for sanctions, saying that "pressure and sanctions cannot fundamentally solve" the standoff.
But the White House was optimistic about chances of getting China on board.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who backs sanctions, said she was "very hopeful."
She spoke of "a positive development, even if it is moving slowly and we can’t say whether it will lead to sanctions."
Hu’s strong statement at the summit was scrutinized for signals about China’s position.
"We firmly oppose nuclear weapons proliferation and strongly support efforts to enhance international nuclear security," he told the summit.
Hu added that China backs "the equal right of all countries to the peaceful use of nuclear energy."
The New York Times reported that Obama was offering to help China maintain steady fuel deliveries if sanctions against Iran led to a disruption of oil supplies.
Iran defiantly said it was organizing its own nuclear conference to be held in Tehran on Saturday and Sunday with foreign ministers from 15 countries.