IAEA member states acknowledge agency's efforts to thwart cyberattacks

Vienna, Dec 10, IRNA – Member States of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Saturday supported the IAEA efforts to assist Member States to strengthen computer security, recognizing the threat of cyber-attacks against nuclear installations. The ministers of the member states issued a 16-article statement in the end of a five-day International Conference on Nuclear Security in Vienna. 'We, the Ministers of the Member States of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), gathered at the International Conference on Nuclear Security: Commitments and Actions, remain concerned about threats to nuclear security and therefore committed to continuously maintaining and further strengthening nuclear security through national actions, which may involve international cooperation, primarily through the IAEA, as well as through other relevant international organizations and initiatives, in accordance with their respective mandates and memberships,' the statement read. 'We recognize physical protection as a key element in nuclear security, and support the further development of the IAEA’s assistance in areas of importance to Member States such as nuclear forensics, nuclear security detection architecture and response, information security, transport security, and insider threat mitigation, recognizing the need for appropriate measures to protect sensitive information in achieving this objective,' reads article 9 of the statement. 'We recognize that highly enriched uranium (HEU) and separated plutonium in all their applications require special precautions to ensure their nuclear security and that it is of great importance that they be appropriately secured and accounted for, by and in the relevant State. We encourage the Member States concerned, on a voluntary basis, to further minimize HEU in civilian stocks and use LEU where technically and economically feasible,' the statement added. 'We commit to continue taking active steps to combat illicit trafficking of nuclear and other radioactive material, to protect and secure all such material to ensure that it cannot be used by non-State actors in criminal or terrorist acts, and to continue efforts on our territories to prepare for recovering such material in case it has fallen out of regulatory control, taking into account relevant international instruments. We emphasize the importance of strong national legislative and regulatory frameworks for nuclear security.' 1378/IRNA