Concerning GICNT related activities of Interagency Working Group
at Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine
Carrying out the directive of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated June 27th, 2007 No.27686/1/1-07, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine formed (MFA order dated May 23rd, 2008 No.102) the Interagency Working Group related to fulfilment of obligations by the state authorities of Ukraine within the framework of the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (IWG GICNT).
The Interagency Working Group which functions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, is composed of the officials from state authorities, companies, institutes and non-government organizations acting in the domain of employment of nuclear and radiation security, physical protection of nuclear units, nuclear materials, radioactive wastes, and other sources of ionizing radiation; accounting and control over nuclear materials; anti-trafficking of nuclear and radioactive materials; counteraction to terrorist acts against nuclear and radiation hazardous facilities; as well as law enforcement measures in respect to nuclear materials, including cases of their transportation.
The Interagency Working Group comprises the IWG Chairman, Deputy Chairman, secretary and IWG members. The Political Department and Department of Armament Control, Military and Technical Cooperation of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine assure organizational support for IWG activities.
The Director of Political Department of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine of Ukraine manages and organizes IWG activities.
The Interagency Working Group activities are principally performed in the form of meetings, while the state authorities, including IWG members, propose the agenda and dates of their convening.
The Interagency Working Group prepares an annual report following its yearly results.
Besides, the above ministerial order approved the Regulation on IWG and its staff in accordance with proposals made by the ministries, agencies, and other organizations and institutions, as well as by scientific, and analytical institutes and centers of Ukraine involved in implementation of tasks of counteraction to threats of nuclear terrorism.
Principal tasks of Interagency Working Group :
- gathering of data concerning terrorist manifestations related to nuclear and radiation hazardous facilities inside and outside Ukraine;
- studying of the world experience in relation to counteraction to nuclear terrorism;
- assistance in establishment of bilateral and multilateral relations with the Initiative Member States aimed at solving mutual problems related to studies of probable threats to nuclear and radiation hazardous facilities, and counteraction to acts of nuclear terrorism;
- exchange of experience on the developed regulatory documents related to counteraction to acts of nuclear terrorism and assuring physical nuclear security at radiation hazardous facilities vulnerable to terrorism;
- assistance in filling of the Ukrainian segment of the Initiative web portal and obtaining of information, contained in the segments of the other Initiative Member States, by the concerned ministries and agencies of Ukraine;
- preparation of information and proposals for submission to the Secretariat of the President of Ukraine, Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, Executive Office of the Council for National Security and Defense of Ukraine, central state and law enforcement bodies in respect to the need for strengthening measures to counteract threats of nuclear terrorism, including improvement of the regulatory base related to physical protection of nuclear units, nuclear materials, radioactive wastes, and other sources of ionizing radiation, and counteraction to acts of nuclear terrorism;
- preparation of materials in order to advise the state and law enforcement bodies of Ukraine about the measures strengthening physical protection of the relevant facilities and performance of Action Plan under the Global Initiative;
- preparation of materials in order to advise the Initiative Member States, IAEA, and other international organizations concerning fulfillment of obligations by Ukraine under the Initiative;
- processing of proposals for scientific, research and analytical entities in respect to tendencies in spread of terrorist manifestations against nuclear and radiation hazardous facilities, as well as development of draft regulatory documents aimed at strengthening of physical nuclear security and counteraction to threats of nuclear terrorism;
- assistance in arrangement and holding of conferences, working meetings, seminars, round tables, exercises, scientific visits related to counteraction to acts of nuclear terrorism inside Ukraine in accordance with directives of the Secretariat of the President of Ukraine, Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and Council for National Security and Defense of Ukraine.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine notifies the Founder States of the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism as well as IAEA of the measures introduced by Ukraine in the field of counteraction to acts of nuclear terrorism and fulfillment of obligations under the international Convention on the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism.
The most active IWG participants, which took part in the GICNT international events during 2008–2009, were the Headquarters of Anti-Terrorist Center at the Security Service of Ukraine, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Security Service of Ukraine, Administration of State Border Service of Ukraine, Ministry of Emergencies of Ukraine, State Enterprise – National Nuclear Power Generation Company “Energoatom”, Service of Foreign Intelligence and “LEX” Scientific and Research Information - Analytical Centre.
