Dear editor,
I refer to the topical article "Summit aims to counter nuclear terrorism threat" by Andrew Hammond, published by The Korea Times, in the opinion page on March 21 which is focused on the third Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) in The Hague, Netherlands.
The article deserves to be completed with a reference to the 2012 Seoul NSS which was a major historic event in the ongoing efforts of multilateral diplomacy for preventing nuclear terrorism and strengthening global nuclear security which must be treated as high priorities of the world community of nations.
There is no doubt that nuclear terrorism is the most immediate and extreme threat to global security. Therefore, today an important and urgent diplomatic task is to prepare a favorable political climate for the universal ratification of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism of April 13 2005. This comprehensive multilateral legal instrument (28 articles) is designed to criminalize acts of nuclear terrorism and to promote police and judicial cooperation to prevent, investigate and punish such acts.
States parties to the convention are requested to cooperate in preventing terrorist attacks by sharing information and assisting each other in criminal investigations and extradition proceedings. It also deals with both crisis situations, helping countries to solve the situations and post-crisis situations by rendering nuclear material safe through the International Atomic Energy Agency.
While this convention is already in force since July 7 2007, it has been ratified only by 93 countries from the 193 members of the United Nations.
If this convention is ratified by all countries and is strictly observed by all parties, it could bring a significant contribution to the success of collective actions to counter the nuclear terrorism threat. This is an objective of crucial importance for the future of a lasting world peace.
Ioan Voicu
Bangkok
ioanvoicu@yahoo.com
I refer to the topical article "Summit aims to counter nuclear terrorism threat" by Andrew Hammond, published by The Korea Times, in the opinion page on March 21 which is focused on the third Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) in The Hague, Netherlands.
The article deserves to be completed with a reference to the 2012 Seoul NSS which was a major historic event in the ongoing efforts of multilateral diplomacy for preventing nuclear terrorism and strengthening global nuclear security which must be treated as high priorities of the world community of nations.
There is no doubt that nuclear terrorism is the most immediate and extreme threat to global security. Therefore, today an important and urgent diplomatic task is to prepare a favorable political climate for the universal ratification of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism of April 13 2005. This comprehensive multilateral legal instrument (28 articles) is designed to criminalize acts of nuclear terrorism and to promote police and judicial cooperation to prevent, investigate and punish such acts.
States parties to the convention are requested to cooperate in preventing terrorist attacks by sharing information and assisting each other in criminal investigations and extradition proceedings. It also deals with both crisis situations, helping countries to solve the situations and post-crisis situations by rendering nuclear material safe through the International Atomic Energy Agency.
While this convention is already in force since July 7 2007, it has been ratified only by 93 countries from the 193 members of the United Nations.
If this convention is ratified by all countries and is strictly observed by all parties, it could bring a significant contribution to the success of collective actions to counter the nuclear terrorism threat. This is an objective of crucial importance for the future of a lasting world peace.
Ioan Voicu
Bangkok
ioanvoicu@yahoo.com
