The nuclear safety is on the agenda

On March 26-27, 2012, the Summit on nuclear safety will take place in the Korean Seoul. The leaders of 58 states and the international organizations, including the United Nations and IAEA will take part in it. Many people expect this event with interest and ask a fair question – whether it will be possible to initiate the constructive solution of key questions on a subject of strengthening of nuclear safety, taking into account the realities of today?

Still recently we spoke with concepts of nuclear war and operated with categories of reciprocal, reciprocal and counter blow … The plans were prepared and even in case of destruction of the management of the USSR, the nuclear blows on the opponent should proceed. In conditions of “cold war” and ideological opposition it was clear that if the third world war will begin, it would be the last war in the history of mankind. Naturally, it was difficult to imagine safety in that situation such as it is represented today.

Today the world has changed, but the nuclear weapon remains in modern conditions and will remain the most important component of ensuring national security of Russia in foreseeable prospect.

At the same time, it conceals the real threat in itself on the physical essence in case of any threats, including from the international terrorism. Therefore ensuring nuclear and radiating safety of the nuclear weapon at all stages of its cycle always remains a problem of the state importance in the country.

Another story is that there are more than fifty countries, besides the states possessing the nuclear weapon in the world, which develop the nuclear power and have stocks of nuclear materials and radioactive substances. There are also countries which now develop the peace application of atomic energy that updates the problems of nuclear safety.

Russia, the USA and other countries developed in nuclear area, anyway, face the questions of safety of nuclear and radioactive materials. However there is considerable number of the states which have weak idea of measures for providing the necessary level of safety of such materials. And possibly, this summit will allow to pay their attention to introduction of world-wide recognized standards of nuclear safety.

The question of advance of nuclear power will be the second question which will be probably taken out on the forum agenda. After all it is logical that the unique purpose of the summit doesn't put the toughening of sanctions, control, etc at all. It is very actually to show the advantage of nuclear power taking into account the coming nearer crisis, naturally, with observance of all norms and safety standards.

As to idea of the denuclearized world the discussion of which will be actively probable to move ahead also at the summit, so it is necessary to approach to this issue differentially and deliberately in this case.

For example, the appeals of the international movement Global Zero to be released from the nuclear weapon and the industry by 2030 seem, to put it mildly, very doubtful in the reality. However it is necessary to start to think of it. And now it is possible to hear more weighed and reasonable offers in this context.

For example, the next Kazakhstan which has voluntary refused the share of the nuclear weapon which was inherited after disintegration of the USSR, put forward a number of efficient initiatives.

So, according to Nursultan Nazarbayev, it would be expedient to legalize a new format of “Nuclear club”, having included the states de facto having the nuclear weapon there supported by participants of the previous Washington summit. This club and each member should assume the obligations to act only in coordination with the UN Security Council. Besides, the countries, bearing nuclear ambitions, should refuse them - in exchange for guarantees of the nuclear weapon non-use and protection in case of attack from “Nuclear club”.

In addition, the idea of creation of a certain universal contract on general horizontal and vertical non-proliferation and destruction of the nuclear weapon is worthy. Such document will be urged to guarantee of non-use of “double standards” and concrete mechanisms of sanctions to his violators. At the same time each state which has joined the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, will have the right to develop and use the peace nuclear power on the basis of observance of all requirements of IAEA.

Thus it is clear that the nuclear weapon became the political lever long ago. The situations round Pakistan, Iran and North Korea testify it brightly. But if to start with danger of its distribution, we should go by the way of reduction of the nuclear weapon without stopping connecting other nuclear states.

Thus, the concept of nuclear safety ensuring is difficult dynamically developing process which isn't limited only by the ensuring of technical protection of nuclear objects. It is influenced by constantly changing threats - beginning with the escalations of the political and military conflicts between the states and finishing with terrorism. Respectively, it is necessary for world community to analyze these threats in common and to develop the corresponding rigid and reliable mechanisms of protection against them, to avoid nuclear catastrophe.

In particular, as the secretary general of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon has noted, the organization headed by him intends to bring some offers in the sphere of strengthening of multilateral nuclear safety among which the toughening of financial sanctions appear and also tracking of production and transfer of the enriched uranium, plutonium and other sharing materials.