11-12 Dec 2007
Nuclear experts from Russia and NATO countries exchanged views on the prevention of nuclear weapons incidents and accidents, during a seminar at NATO Headquarters on 11 and 12 December. The event was organized under the auspices of the NATO-Russia Council (NRC).
Participants included over 50 senior officials and experts dealing with nuclear weapons safety and security issues from foreign and defence ministries, national delegations at NATO Headquarters, NATO Military Authorities and NATO international staff.
The seminar followed up on a series of field demonstrations by NRC nuclear weapon states on nuclear weapons accident -response capabilities, held between 2004 and 2007.
The primary purpose of the seminar was to provide a forum for participants from NRC member countries to exchange views on the prevention of nuclear weapons incidents and accidents, as well as on lessons learned from past occurrences and from the NRC field exercise.
The event promoted greater openness and transparency, and enhanced understanding of safety and security provisions and nuclear accident-consequence management issues.
It also provided an opportunity for NRC nuclear experts to identify potential topics to be considered in the future in the NRC framework.
The seminar is part of the continuing NATO-Russia dialogue on nuclear weapons issues, as laid out in the 1997 NATO-Russia Founding Act and the 2002 Rome Declaration, which established the NRC. A similar NATO-Russia seminar on nuclear weapon safety and security was held in The Hague, the Netherlands, in April 2002.
