Press conference of the International Luxembourg Forum on Preventing Nuclear Catastrophe

International nuclear experts call on US and Russia to form a coalition to tackle threat of nuclear terrorism

The declaration of the International Luxembourg Forum on preventing a crisis in the control over proliferation of nuclear weapons and efforts against nuclear terrorism

December 9 2015, Moscow:The International Luxembourg Forum (Luxembourg Forum) today announced key points of the joint declaration aimed at averting the threat of nuclear proliferation and nuclear terrorism.

The declaration, following a conference held last week in Washington D.C., calls as a matter of the highest priority for there to be an urgent and immediate requirement to rebuild U.S.-Russian relations.

The Luxembourg Forum urge leaders of Russia and the USA, hopefully joined by their principal allies, to do the following:

• Without further delay resume the process of negotiations for follow-on reductions of strategic arms.

• Resume cooperation on WMD security, including nuclear material security, to prevent the threat of catastrophic terrorism. In particular, emphasis should be given to improving security of radiological materials to counter the growing danger of terrorist acts with the use of “dirty bomb”.

• Initiate talks on the limitation, reduction and confidence-building measures related to sub-strategic nuclear weapons.

Dr. Kantor, President of the Luxembourg Forum, said:

“Today we find ourselves in a race between cooperation and catastrophe. Consequently, leaders of Russia and the USA must begin this work immediately. Because of growing tensions across the globe, renewed and enhanced dialogue is essential. No security architecture, no set of rules, no efforts to negotiate or implement agreements can succeed without leaders who are committed to addressing core issues and who are willing to cooperate. It is their obligation as leaders to work together to build a safer world for all our citizens”.

Signatories to the joint Luxembourg Forum / NTI declaration include Senator Sam Nunn (Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Nuclear Threat Initiative), General Vladimir Dvorkin (Chairman of the Organizing Committee, International Luxembourg Forum), Dr Moshe Kantor (President of the International Luxembourg Forum on Preventing Nuclear Catastrophe), Hans Blix (former Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency), William Perry (former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Defence), Des Browne (former UK Secretary of State for Defence) and Alexei Arbatov (former Deputy Chairman of the Defence Committee of the State Duma, Federal Assembly – Russian Parliament).

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About The Luxembourg Forum

The International Luxembourg Forum on Preventing Nuclear Catastrophe was established by a decision of an International Conference to Prevent a Nuclear Catastrophe convening in Luxembourg on May 24-25, 2007. The Forum’s Advisory Council comprises 49 more credible and prominent international experts from 14 nations. The Forum is among the more representative NGOs bringing together leading international experts on nuclear non-proliferation, reduction and limitation of weapons. The President of the Forum is Viatcheslav Moshe Kantor. The Forum’s principal bodies are the International Advisory Council and Supervisory Board. The Forum’s key goals are to analyze threats arising from the proliferation of nuclear weapons and to develop specific suggestions and recommendations in a number of areas, such as continued reductions in nuclear weapons, strengthening nuclear and missile non-proliferation regimes, counteracting attempts at acquiring nuclear weapons and technologies.