The slogan of ensuring the security of nuclear weapons and materials in Russia has unexpectedly come to the forefront of the U.S. Democratic Party's election platform. Vice presidential candidate Senator John Edwards spoke about this particular issue at Democratic National Convention in Boston in late July.
The very fact that the United States is concerned about the security of nuclear arms in Russia is gratifying. Clearly, the problem of the proliferation of nuclear weapons and their components across the planet, which is now covered by a dense network of terrorist organizations, can only be solved through close cooperation between countries that are in any way connected to nuclear weapons or nuclear energy.
However, it is also clear that cooperation and shared responsibility do not relieve these countries of their obligations to ensure their states' nuclear security. It is important to note that Russia, one of the most powerful nuclear countries, is now a secure nuclear country.
Throughout the history of the Soviet Union and Russia, there has never been an attempt to seize nuclear weapons inside Russia, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said on August 3. Nor have there ever been any attacks on any nuclear facilities. "Regrettably, the myth that Russian nuclear weapons are improperly guarded is widely spread in the world," he said. "However, this is just a myth."
The Defense Ministry is fully aware of its responsibility as regards the security of nuclear weapons and continuously upgrades its security as it reacts "to the constantly changing tactics of terrorists," said Mr. Ivanov.
Therefore, at threat is more likely to emanate from other areas. Weapons-grade nuclear waste, which could come from either the military or nuclear power plants, seems to be very attractive to terrorists, as it can be used to make a dirty bomb (an explosive and nuclear waste). Although a dirty bomb cannot cause considerable destruction, it can contaminate a vast area with radioactive materials, and therefore the consequences of detonating a dirty bomb can be compared to the effects of the Chernobyl disaster.
Unlike Ukraine, Russia's southwestern neighbor, until recently there have not even been attempts to export nuclear waste from Russia. In a special operation in the Crimea in April this year, the Ukrainian Security Service arrested a group in the city of Armyansk that was trying to sell two containers of Cesium-137. Such cases are "isolated" in Ukraine and "are prevented by Ukrainian law enforcement agencies in Ukraine in good time," noted Ukrainian security services.
Unused and spent nuclear fuel from research reactors built by the Soviet Union in other countries presented a certain problem until now. For financial reasons, it was difficult to organize the transportation and processing of this waste in Russia. However, the recent Russian-US agreement providing for financial assistance in returning nuclear fuel from 17 countries to Russia will make it possible to conclude this process as early as 2009. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei discussed this subject during a meeting in Moscow late in June. Mr. ElBaradei said that he "is inspired by the Russian-US agreement and intends to discuss its implementation."
Russia has become a strong yet secure nuclear power through successful domestic policy and effective international agreements.
