WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) today launched its second travel blog, allowing online visitors to follow NNSA Administrator Thomas D'Agostino and receive updates from the second international meeting on Next Generation Safeguards in Tokai-mura, Ibaraki Japan.
This morning, Administrator D'Agostino delivered opening remarks at the start of the meeting, which began today and will conclude on Wednesday, October 28. The meetings have brought together safeguards and nonproliferation experts from 19 countries, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the European Atomic Energy Agency (Euratom), and the Brazil-Argentine Agency for Accounting and Control of Nuclear Materials (ABACC) to review progress in global efforts to revitalize and expand support for international safeguards.
"President Obama has emphasized the need to strengthen the international safeguards system as part of his historic nonproliferation agenda," said D'Agostino. "I'm excited to be part of this international meeting, and I'm delighted that we are able to use modern technology to share these collaborative efforts taking place halfway around the world."
D'Agostino's inaugural travel blog documented his trip last month to the 2009 International Atomic Energy Agency's 53rd General Conference in Vienna, Austria. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu announced the Next Generation Safeguards meeting at the General Conference and read a statement from President Obama calling for efforts to "strengthen a durable, global regime that prevents the spread of nuclear weapons to additional states or terrorist groups" and to "ensure that the IAEA has the resources and authority it needs to verify that nuclear programs are peaceful."
NNSA's Next Generation Safeguards Initiative (NGSI), a key part of the international community's effort to strengthen safeguards, is developing the policies, concepts, technologies, expertise, and international safeguards infrastructure necessary to strengthen and sustain the international safeguards system as it evolves to meet new challenges over the next 25 years.
Visitors to the Next Generation Safeguards travel blog, located here [1], will find photos and video from the events, as well as links to NNSA's Facebook and Twitter accounts, where updates will be posted throughout the day.
Related press releases and fact sheets will also be made available through the blog.
Follow NNSA News on Facebook [2], Twitter [3], YouTube [4], and Flickr [5].
Established by Congress in 2000, NNSA is a semi-autonomous agency within the U.S. Department of Energy responsible for enhancing national security through the military application of nuclear science in the nation's national security enterprise. NNSA maintains and enhances the safety, security, reliability, and performance of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile without nuclear testing; reduces the global danger from weapons of mass destruction; provides the U.S. Navy with safe and effective nuclear propulsion; and responds to nuclear and radiological emergencies in the U.S. and abroad.
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NNSA Public Affairs (202) 586-7371
