The United Nations' (UN) General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly to urge countries to support increased efforts by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to prevent acts of terrorism being committed with nuclear and other radioactive materials.
Some 150 delegates voted in favour, with North Korea voting against and the Ivory Coast and Laos both abstaining.

Assembly members also called on all Middle East states to fully apply the Agency's safety guidelines to all nuclear activities, adhere to international non-proliferation regimes and set up a nuclear weapon-free zone.

The IAEA is also looking at ways of increasing its information, advisory or training functions by way of helping Member States in ensuring that:

  • their nuclear regulatory infrastructure is in place;
  • nuclear material, other radioactive materials and facilities are properly protected from theft and sabotage;
  • detection measures and equipment at borders and elsewhere is effective in combating the illicit trafficking of nuclear materials;
  • issues regarding nuclear installation safety are addressed.

It's likely that the UN vote will be welcomed by the IAEA, which has admitted that its programme of works "is likely to require extra amounts of resources".

Source

SMT