Nuclear terrorism a 'terrifying possibility'
There are 'terrifying possibilities' that terrorists could get access to nuclear material to make dirty bombs, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop warns.
Speaking on the sidelines of a global nuclear summit in Washington on Saturday, Ms Bishop said Australia was committed to the global effort to secure nuclear material amid fears of the potential for a nuclear terrorist attack.
'There is a high level of concern that nuclear material could fall into the hands of terrorists or terrorist groups or that they would get sufficient material to make what is called a dirty bomb,' Ms Bishop told reporters.
US President Barack Obama says terrorists will find it harder to obtain nuclear material thanks to a 'key treaty' ratified by 102 nations and expected to be effective soon.
'Working together, our nations have made it harder for terrorists to get their hands on nuclear material,' he said on Friday at the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington referring to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material.
Ms Bishop said Australia had a strong record in securing nuclear material as a uranium producer and exporter.
'It was so heartening to see so many countries represented here, exchanging ideas, exchanging experiences and working collaboratively to ensure that the nuclear material for civilian purposes is held as tightly and securely as possible with a commitment to reducing the risk that terrorists could gain control.'
Dozens of world leaders at the summit have re-affirmed their commitment to fight proliferation of nuclear weapons and materials, according to a communique.
It says more needs to be done to prevent non-state actors from obtaining nuclear and other radioactive materials.
Obama said the world has 'measurably reduced' the risk from nuclear weapons but the threat continues to exist.
He also said the Iran nuclear deal had been successful so far but more work needed to be done to implement the agreement.
Obama, speaking after a meeting of the six world powers that reached the deal with Tehran last year, said the road to that agreement was not easy.
'Full and continued implementation is going to take the same kind of co-operation and consultation,' Obama said.
'This deal does remind us that when the international community stands as one we can advance our common security.'
The US president said it will take time for Iran to reintegrate into the global economy.
'This is a success of diplomacy that hopefully we'll be able to copy in the future,' Obama told reporters.
- See more at: http://www.skynews.com.au/news/top-stories/2016/04/02/obama-welcomes-nuclear-weapons-protection.html#sthash.0JjaofeA.dpuf
Source: http://www.skynews.com.au/news/top-stories/2016/04/02/obama-welcomes-nuclear-weapons-protection.html
Speaking on the sidelines of a global nuclear summit in Washington on Saturday, Ms Bishop said Australia was committed to the global effort to secure nuclear material amid fears of the potential for a nuclear terrorist attack.
'There is a high level of concern that nuclear material could fall into the hands of terrorists or terrorist groups or that they would get sufficient material to make what is called a dirty bomb,' Ms Bishop told reporters.
US President Barack Obama says terrorists will find it harder to obtain nuclear material thanks to a 'key treaty' ratified by 102 nations and expected to be effective soon.
'Working together, our nations have made it harder for terrorists to get their hands on nuclear material,' he said on Friday at the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington referring to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material.
Ms Bishop said Australia had a strong record in securing nuclear material as a uranium producer and exporter.
'It was so heartening to see so many countries represented here, exchanging ideas, exchanging experiences and working collaboratively to ensure that the nuclear material for civilian purposes is held as tightly and securely as possible with a commitment to reducing the risk that terrorists could gain control.'
Dozens of world leaders at the summit have re-affirmed their commitment to fight proliferation of nuclear weapons and materials, according to a communique.
It says more needs to be done to prevent non-state actors from obtaining nuclear and other radioactive materials.
Obama said the world has 'measurably reduced' the risk from nuclear weapons but the threat continues to exist.
He also said the Iran nuclear deal had been successful so far but more work needed to be done to implement the agreement.
Obama, speaking after a meeting of the six world powers that reached the deal with Tehran last year, said the road to that agreement was not easy.
'Full and continued implementation is going to take the same kind of co-operation and consultation,' Obama said.
'This deal does remind us that when the international community stands as one we can advance our common security.'
The US president said it will take time for Iran to reintegrate into the global economy.
'This is a success of diplomacy that hopefully we'll be able to copy in the future,' Obama told reporters.
- See more at: http://www.skynews.com.au/news/top-stories/2016/04/02/obama-welcomes-nuclear-weapons-protection.html#sthash.0JjaofeA.dpuf
Source: http://www.skynews.com.au/news/top-stories/2016/04/02/obama-welcomes-nuclear-weapons-protection.html
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