Ban outlines 5-point nuclear security plan

WASHINGTON, April 13 (UPI) -- World leaders must focus on five action areas to help secure nuclear material and prevent nuclear terrorism, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Tuesday.

Communiques issued from the two-day Nuclear Security Summit in Washington "highlight the need to strengthen global norms and (the need) to achieve universal membership in key multilateral treaties aimed at preventing terrorist groups and non-state actors from gaining access to the most lethal weapons and materials known to man," Ban told summit participants.

Heading the list where global action is necessary is, "preventing nuclear terrorism," Ban said.

Even one attack could inflict mass casualties and change our world forever," he said. "Such a prospect should compel all of us to strengthen our common defenses."

Secondly, he said, "There is an urgent need for accurate accounting and transparency of all stockpiles of fissile materials, including historical production."

Ban said it was "imperative" to have a "verifiable and legally binding" fissile treaty to keep the production of such material in check.

Strengthening the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency is third for Ban, who said, "we need to enhance our engagement with the nuclear industry."

He recommended tackling an initiative that would build a framework that balances nuclear technology with risk-management strategies. "I stand ready to help," he said.

Ban called on the U.N. Security Council to be more engaged regarding nuclear issues.

"I encourage the council to meet on an annual basis ... to follow up on its commitment to nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament in general," the secretary-general said.

"I once again urge Iran and (North Korea) to fully comply with the relevant Security Council resolutions," Ban said.

Finally, Ban said leaders should work to achieve "tandem progress on both nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation."

"While there is much the world can do to reduce the risks posed by nuclear weapons," Ban said, "disarmament offers the greatest possible guarantee."

Ban also plugged nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference at the United Nations headquarters in New York in a few weeks' time.

"The NPT is the cornerstone of the global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime," Ban said. "The international community must use next month's event to strengthen it."