National Statement: Lithuania

Nuclear Security Summit 2016 – Lithuanian National Statement

The Nuclear Security Summit in Washington marks tremendous efforts and formidable achievements of States in strengthening the nuclear security and accomplishing distinctive progress in the security of nuclear materials. The Summit in Washington also recaps difficult challenges to global nuclear security posed by the evolving threats such as nuclear terrorism.

Lithuania is and will remain strongly supportive of the main objectives of this process:

• to raise awareness of the importance of nuclear security;
• to improve national capacity to prevent, detect, protect and prosecute; and
• to increase global nuclear security through international cooperation. Stronger international institutions and advanced nuclear security culture will undeniably help deter, detect, and disrupt attempts of mishandling of radioactive materials out of regulatory control and of nuclear terrorism.

Lithuania is proud to contribute to the concerted efforts of the international community in fortifying global nuclear security architecture that is all-inclusive, built on international standards, transparent in implementation on all levels, and results in a significant decline in global stocks of the nuclear weapons-usable materials.

In this respect, Lithuania will continue its support to the initiatives undertaken in Seoul on “Activity and Cooperation to Counter Nuclear Smuggling” and on “Nuclear Security Training and Support Centres”. Nuclear Security Centre of Excellence (NSCOE), established in Lithuania in the aftermath of the Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul in 2012, has significantly developed its operational capacity in supporting sustainability and effectiveness of the national nuclear security measures and their development. Lithuania is keen to further employ and expand regional potential of the Nuclear Security Center of Excellence as a full-scale capacity-building and training institution in prevention, detection, response, and investigation of nuclear and radiological smuggling.

Diminished use of highly-enriched uranium (HEU), secure nuclear materials, actions to counter nuclear smuggling and collectively improve nuclear security culture, share best practices, and elevate nuclear security are all vital in achieving objectives of Nuclear Security Summits. Underscoring the importance of radiation protection and security of the high activity radiation sources (HASS) and a fundamental commitment to the provisions of the Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources, that are comprehensively implemented in the national legal system as well as in the practice or activities related to HASS, Lithuania is proud to announce its support to the initiative on Strengthening the Security of High Activity Sealed Radioactive Sources.

Adherent to full transparency in implementing all international nuclear security and safety requirements, Lithuania will continue its support to an all-encompassing employment of the IAEA network to ensure transparency among states. Lithuania endorses plans to reinforce enduring international institutions and initiatives that support nuclear security. Strong system of international institutions will enable them to build upon the legacy of the Summits. Lithuania is proud to announce its support to the Gift Basket on Sustaining Action to Strengthen Global Nuclear Security.

In 2016, Lithuania will welcome the IAEA Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) mission with the International Physical Protection Advisory Service (IPPAS) Mission to follow in the year 2017.

Acknowledging nuclear security cannot be upheld with in isolation from nuclear safety, Lithuania reiterates a fundamental and collective international interest to make sure that nuclear security and safety are dealt with in a coordinated and consistent manner to minimize the countless inherent risks of a precarious nuclear safety conditions, reckless international behavior of States and violations of the international nuclear safety requirements at national, regional, and international levels. For this reason, it is vitally important to address both nuclear safety and security without compromising each other, prioritizing the essential need of transparency in securing the nuclear safety.

Lithuania‘s commitment to nuclear security, safeguards and non-proliferation is long standing: a party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), Lithuania ratified the 2005 Amendment of the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) in 2008, has an Additional Protocol with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and is a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).