WASHINGTON, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Leaders attending the fourth Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) here Friday vowed to make continued national and international endeavors to tackle the threat of nuclear terrorism.
"The threat of nuclear and radiological terrorism remains one of the greatest challenges to international security, and the threat is constantly evolving," they pointed out in a communique, which also recognized the progress that has been achieved under the NSS process.
Under such circumstances, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the "shared goals of nuclear disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and peaceful use of nuclear energy."
Meanwhile, they also stressed that measures to strengthen nuclear security "will not hamper the rights of States to develop and use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes."
In promoting nuclear security, the states bear "the fundamental responsibility ... to maintain at all times effective security of all nuclear and other radioactive material, including nuclear materials used in nuclear weapons, and nuclear facilities under their control," said the communique.
"More work remains to be done to prevent non-state actors from obtaining nuclear and other radioactive materials, which could be used for malicious purposes," it said. "We pledge that our countries will continue to make nuclear security an enduring priority."
In addition, the communique pointed out that "countering nuclear and radiological terrorism demands international cooperation" and that "international cooperation can contribute to a more inclusive, coordinated, sustainable, and robust global nuclear security architecture for the common benefit and security of all."
In that aspect, the leaders reaffirmed "the essential responsibility and the central role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in strengthening the global nuclear security architecture and in developing international guidance."
They also reiterated the IAEA's "leading role in facilitating and coordinating nuclear security activities among international organizations and initiatives and supporting the efforts of States to fulfill their nuclear security responsibilities."
"We seek to maintain the international network of officials and government experts who have supported the Summit process and to incorporate the broader community of States, as well as encourage the continued engagement of relevant partners in nuclear industry and civil society," said the document.
