India to be party to convention on nuke material

New Delhi, June 15: In a move aimed at protecting nuclear material and facilities from terrorists, the Cabinet today approved the ratification of the amendments to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM), 1980, and the Extradition Act 1962.

Becoming a party to the Convention would strengthen the international legal framework to combat terrorism and also enhance international cooperation in the investigation, prosecution and extradition of those who commit terrorist acts and acts of sabotage involving radioactive material or nuclear devices and facilities.

The ratification was done at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi told reporters.

At a Diplomatic Conference held at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) headquarters at Vienna, the States Parties adopted an amendment to the Convention with a view to strengthening its provisions.

The amendment has enabled the member countries to include terrorist acts and acts of sabotage against nuclear material and facilities among the offences punishable under their domestic laws.

The amended CPPNM would make it legally binding for States Parties to protect nuclear facilities and material in peaceful domestic use, storage as well as transport.

It would also provide for expanded cooperation between and among states regarding rapid measures to locate and recover stolen or smuggled nuclear material, mitigate any radiological consequences of sabotage and prevent and combat related offences.

UNI

Related Stories