The Hague, Netherlands
25 March 2014
Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced Canadian support to initiatives that will improve international nuclear security and address the threat posed by nuclear terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. The announcement was made on the margins of the Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) in The Hague, Netherlands, from March 24 to 25, 2014.
Support through Canada's Global Partnership Program (GPP) will facilitate projects that will enhance the physical security of nuclear facilities and radioactive sources, and combat illicit trafficking in countries in Africa, the Americas, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Select projects will be delivered in partnership with the IAEA and the Canadian nuclear industry.
Delivering on a commitment made at the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul, Republic of Korea, Prime Minister Harper also announced the ratification of two conventions that will improve nuclear security and address the threat posed by nuclear terrorism: the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials, and the International Convention on the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism.
Also announced was a joint commitment by Canada and Korea on the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1540, which focuses on counter–proliferation efforts and enhancing the security of nuclear materials worldwide. To date, more than 30 countries have reaffirmed their shared commitment to concrete initiatives in support of the full and universal implementation of UNSCR 1540.
Finally, Prime Minister Harper announced that Canada will host an IAEA International Physical Protection Advisory Service (IPPAS) mission by the end of 2015. IPPAS is a peer review mechanism involving expert examination of a country's nuclear security system.
