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Kyrgyz Republic
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Tajikistan
United StatesConference on Nonproliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction in Central Asia
13-14 April, 2010 - ISTC organized, in collaboration with the Agency for Nuclear and Radiation Safety of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tajikistan, an international conference to assess the status of proliferation risks of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and counter terrorism measures in the Central Asian region. Up to 50 participants from the Russian Federation, the US, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan took part in the conference held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. They represented various Central Asian governments, law enforcement agencies, and research institutes.
One of the main threats to non proliferation in Central Asia is the expertise of scientists that previously worked on the Soviet military programs in nuclear, bio, and chemical fields. After the dissolution of the USSR, the safeguards and controls established have loosened up. So it is important for the international community to verify and encourage the enforcement/adoption of laws and control mechanisms in that regard.
Different research and industrial facilities also contain materials, equipment, and wastes that have to be protected from smuggling or losses because they could represent a threat to international security if they fell into the wrong hands. Mechanism and procedures have to be closely followed and monitored at those facilities.
Experts and participants at the conference discussed the creation of a list of radioactive sources, improvement of laws and clauses to meet IAEA requirements, regulations and coercive measures; physical protection (vulnerability assessment), ensuring safety of ownerless sources, collaboration in the nuclear field, court expertise and establishment of a regional model for the WMD nonproliferation, and the development of preliminary briefs for ISTC project proposals to prevent WMD proliferation.
ISTC has many projects in Central Asia to assure physical protection and accounting of materials at sensitive facilities. ISTC grant program reduces the risks of WMD expertise proliferation.