RABAT, Morocco, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- Twelve nations met in Rabat, Morocco, Oct. 30-31 to discuss the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism.
The Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism meeting was the first since the United States and Russia proposed it at the G8 Summit in St. Petersburg, Russia, in July.
The U.S. State Department's Washington File reported Oct. 30 that the purpose of the gathering was to determine how to thwart the threat of terrorists using a nuclear or radiological device.
Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Robert Joseph said during an interview with the Washington File that the international effort was designed to establish a nuclear consensus on how to deal with a terrorist nuclear threat, because a single terrorist attack could have catastrophic consequences.
Joseph said during his interview that the program "is designed to build a partnership of countries that are committed to countering nuclear terrorism," adding "we do know that non-state actors -- terrorists -- are very interested in acquiring this type of capability."
Attendees at the meeting included Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Canada, Russia, the United States, France, Japan, Australia, Kazakhstan, China and Turkey. A representative from the International Atomic Energy Agency was also present.
