Transcripts
Interview by Assistant Secretary for International Security and Nonproliferation John C. Rood with Aleksandr Aksyutitz of Khabar TV
Astana, Kazakhstan
Monday, June 11, 2007
Question: Could you please tell us what's the stand of the U.S. government on what needs to be done additionally to promote the Global Initiative?
Assistant Secretary Rood: The Global Initiative is a very important project of the United States and the Russian Federation because we continue to see indications of nuclear smuggling and a growing interest among terrorist groups in possession of nuclear weapons. We've had I think a large success in building not only a core group of nations that are committed to this issue, but now here in Astana we've seen a tremendous expansion in the number of countries that are participants in the Global Initiative which now include 51 countries as well as the IAEA and the European Union as observers. So I think what is required at this point, now that we have put in place a charter and begun to lay the foundation and framework for a larger initiative, the key thing is to continue to expand the membership and to build the capacity of countries and their ability to cooperate together to combat what we see is a growing global challenge.
Question: How do you see Kazakhstan's role in the further promotion and expansion of the Global Initiative?
Assistant Secretary Rood: Kazakhstan has been an active participant of the Global Initiative since its inception. We're very grateful to the government of Kazakhstan for hosting this meeting. They've done a tremendous job and we've seen, again, this tremendous expansion in membership that�s occurred here in Astana. So we think the Kazakh government has played a very influential role so far. We look forward to continuing to work together. And it's only fitting we have this meeting in Kazakhstan, given the positive record of the government in combating terrorism and the historic decision of the country to give up its nuclear weapons.
Question: The President of Kazakhstan has raised more than once the issue of double standards whereas the world community stands as one in preventing certain nations' access to nuclear technologies, while it turns a blind eye on similar developments in other nations in the world. How would you comment on that?
Assistant Secretary Rood: I think that we are committed to implementing and supporting the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. There we have seen, unfortunately, several challenges to this regime, most notably by Iran.
We in the United States have tried to apply a very common standard, not only to Iran's pursuit of nuclear programs but, say, other countries like Egypt that have shown an interest.
The issue for us is that states live up to their international obligations. There we see Iran pursuing a covert nuclear weapons program in violation of its obligations. That is the sort of activity that concerns us, and that's why we have sought to enforce the obligations under Iran and other countries� treaty and other obligations. But we see that as a very consistent policy across the board for all nations.
Question: in terms of implementation of the Global Initiative, what practical steps are foreseen in the immediate future to make for a more safe and stable, in nuclear terms, world?
Assistant Secretary Rood: The members in the group have made a political commitment in their Statement of Principles to uphold particular standards. But this is a group that is focused on action in order to improve the capabilities of countries and also to build cooperation. We have a two year program of work activities with about 20 activities sponsored by governments which we this afternoon will hear about additional ideas. That will be our focus, to improve the ability to control nuclear materials, to stop their trafficking, to put in place the legal frameworks to combat this dangerous trade. And again, to build these frameworks for cooperation.
Question: Thank you very much.