Sri Lanka called for placing the nuclear terrorism high on the global agenda at the 2019 Plenary Meeting of the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT), held at Palacio San Martin in Buenos Aires, Argentina from 6-7 June 2019.
Participating at the GICNT Plenary, Ambassador Musthafa M. Jaffeer, Sri Lanka’s Delegate, stated that Sri Lanka has recognized the increased threat posed to global and international security from terrorism, including nuclear terrorism, given the country’s experience from the scourge of terrorism. Stressing that combating terrorism, including nuclear terrorism requires a global partnership, Ambassador Jaffeer expressed Sri Lanka’s resolve to place international initiatives aimed at combating nuclear terrorism, and promoting nuclear safety and security high on international agenda.
Highlighting Sri Lanka’s steadfast commitment to combat against terrorism, the Ambassador stated that Sri Lanka has ratified the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear terrorism in compliance with obligations under the UN Resolution 1540. He further underlined that International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) should play a central role in strengthening international nuclear security framework. At this meeting, he also highlighted Sri Lanka’s engagements with several partner countries and organisations bilaterally and multilaterally on the non–proliferation initiatives.
The GICNT is a voluntary partnership of 88 nations and six observer organisations that are committed to strengthen global capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to nuclear terrorism. The group works to build capacity among member nations to strengthen policies, plans, procedures and interoperability of partner nations. The GICNT, which was established in 2006, is currently Co- Chaired by the Russian Federation and the United States.
