Addressing the first meeting of 12 initial member countries of a
new anti-nuclear terror initiative, Zhang Yan, director-general of
arms control department?of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on
Monday, called for effective measures to prevent and combat nuclear
terrorism, which he said has become an urgent task for the
international community. The meeting was held in the Moroccan city
of Rabat.
Zhang said China has consistently opposed all forms of
terrorism, and fully supports international efforts against it.
China, the US, Russia and nine other countries held their first
meeting in Rabat to begin implementing the Global Initiative to
Combat Nuclear Terrorism.?
The initiative was announced by US President George W. Bush and
his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, at the G8 summit in July.
It aims to provide guidelines for tracking nuclear substances,
ensuring the safety of nuclear facilities, and combating
trafficking that could deliver nuclear materials into the wrong
hands.?
While reiterating China's full support to the initiative, Zhang
stressed that all related measures should be conducted under the
basis of voluntary participation and in accordance with
international laws, adding that this is beneficial to the
initiative's success.
Zhang also called for more caution while taking economic and
financial measures, in case such measures could harm normal
financial activities.?
Zhang said China welcomed the International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA) joining the initiative as an observer. The organization
could offer powerful technical support for the implementation of
the initiative with its rich experience and advanced technologies
about the security of nuclear facilities.?
The host Morocco joined the 12 original members on Monday from
its former position as observer, in the first expansion of the
initiative's membership. Other participating countries include
Britain, France, Italy, Japan, Canada, Turkey, Kazakhstan,
Australia and Germany.
(Xinhua News Agency October 31, 2006)