Fortenberry Comments On Historic U.N. Security Council Session

Press Release

Congressman Jeff Fortenberry, co-founder of the House of Representatives Nuclear Security Caucus, today commented on this morning's session of the United Nations Security Council, which unanimously adopted a United States-led resolution calling on nations to take concrete steps to reduce nuclear dangers. This U.N. Security Council session was the first to focus specifically on nuclear proliferation and disarmament.

"This was an historic moment centered on stemming the dangerous tide of nuclear proliferation," said Fortenberry. "And as was noted, this multilateral dialogue must not be a one-time event. The unanimous adoption of this resolution hopefully indicates a collective will of the responsible community of nations to work together to quell grave nuclear threats. However, lofty rhetoric and collegial expressions of commitment need to be met with action and enforcement by each nation."

Earlier this year Fortenberry successfully amended the Foreign Relations Reauthorization Act to strengthen nuclear safeguards by incorporating key recommendations of the bipartisan Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism, including the implementation of near-real-time surveillance and wide-area surveillance at facilities of concern. It would also provide for routine assessment of the International Atomic Energy Agency's ability to meet its inspection goals, and support appropriate means of visitor registry and country-by-country inventory of nuclear materials.

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