<font color="#990000"> <b>POSTPONED</font></b> The Russian Perspective on Nuclear and Radiological Terrorism

Val Spector, President, International Academy of Sciences on Problems of National Security, Moscow

The fall of the Soviet Union had a devastating impact on the former Soviet nuclear industry. New international borders split the industry, and created three new nuclear states in Ukraine, Belarus, and Kazakhstan. The severe decline in state procurement produced a loss of scientific talent abroad and into new fields at home, and reduced state capacity to maintain control over nuclear materials in the civilian sector.

There have been successes in addressing these issues. Through diplomacy, Ukraine, Belarus, and Kazakhstan relinquished the Soviet-era nuclear weaponry stationed on their territory. International assistance programs aided many scientists in adapting to the new conditions and helped the government improve security at many sites. Yet many challenges remain, and the threat of radiological or nuclear terror attacks remains a grave concern of the Russian government. The speaker will address the Russian perspective on these and related issues.