US & Europe At Risk Of Deadly Nuclear Attack From Rogue States & Terror Groups

LONDON, MOSCOW and WASHINGTON, March 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Joint Event Being Held Today in Washington DC With Nuclear Threat Initiative 

The International Luxembourg Forum on Preventing Nuclear Catastrophe ("The Luxembourg Forum") today warns that the US & Europe are at imminent risk of a deadly nuclear attack from rogue states, such as North Korea, and terror groups, such as ISIS.

As international tensions about North Korea's weapon capabilities escalate in the aftermath of US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's stark warning of the potential for military action, and fears mount about whether Iran will comply with the terms of the nuclear deal it signed last year, global experts on nuclear proliferation gathered in Washington DC today (23 March) to warn of the risk of catastrophic terrorism from rogue states and radical terror groups.

At an event today at The Mayflower Hotel in Washington DC, The Luxembourg Forum together with the Nuclear Threat Initiative will launch their latest publication 'Preventing the Crisis of the Nuclear Arms Control and Catastrophic Terrorism'. The book analyses the current global threats posed by nuclear proliferation and makes recommendations as to how to mitigate the threats.  

Dr. Moshe Kantor, President of the Luxembourg Forum, warned that "global powers led by Russia and the US must urgently resume talks with the goal of preventing further nuclear and long-range missile tests against the growing threat of nuclear terrorism, in whatever form it may take, ranging from the detonation of a 'dirty' bomb by a terror group or the destruction of a nuclear facility to a full-fledged nuclear attack."

Coming amid deadlock in the attempts for nuclear disarmament and as North Korea increases its nuclear capability, speakers will reflect on how developments shine a light on the impotence of the great powers, especially the US and Russia, and the UN Security Council coming together to foster effective dialogue.

According to Dr. Moshe Kantor, "North Korea continues to violate numerous UN Security Council Resolutions in proceeding with its singular nuclear and missile testing program. North Korea's actions risk further provoking both its southern neighbour, Japan, and the US to expand their anti-missile defence systems, a move opposed by Russia and China.

"Escalating tensions could potentially result in a domino effect, as shown by the latest proposals from the South Korean parliament for the country to create its own nuclear weapon, an idea that has long been debated by South Korean experts and officials. If such suggestions gain traction, other nuclear states could materialise, and the collapse of the entire nuclear non-proliferation regime would then be inevitable."

Dr. Moshe Kantor also calls on the international community to do all in their power to ensure the full implementation of the agreements by all parties with regard to the Iranian nuclear program.

Sharing his vision for a rapprochement of bilateral relations and cooperation between leading nuclear powers the USA and Russia, Dr. Moshe Kantor stresses the parties "should pursue a constructive dialogue aimed at Iran remaining a nuclear weapon-free state and ensuring it does not resume its questionable activities in the nuclear field."

Speakers at today's event include Luxembourg President Dr Viatcheslav Moshe Kantor, General Vladimir Dvorkin, Alexey Arbatov, Des Browne, Joan Rohlfing, Page Stoutland and Andrew Bienlawski. Full biographical detail can be found below.

Notes to Editors 

The International Luxembourg Forum on Preventing Nuclear Catastrophe was established by decision of the International Conference on Preventing Nuclear Catastrophe, held 24-25 May 2007 in Luxembourg. The Advisory Council comprises 49 of the most authoritative and best-known international experts from 14 different countries. 

The Forum is one of the most representative non-governmental organizations to bring together leading international experts in the field of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and arms reduction and limitation. The President of the Forum is Viatcheslav Moshe Kantor. The main bodies of the Forum are: the International Advisory Council and the Supervisory Council. 

The main tasks of the Forum are to analyze threats of proliferation of nuclear weaponry and to draw up specific proposals and recommendations as to further ways of reducing nuclear weapons, strengthening nuclear and missile non-proliferation regimes, preventing attempts to acquire nuclear weapons and technologies by unstable regimes and terrorist organizations and of resolving regional nuclear crises. 

Amongst participants at the presentation at the event were well-known international experts as Viatcheslav KANTOR, President of the International Luxembourg Forum on Preventing Nuclear Catastrophe; Vladimir DVORKIN, Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the International Luxembourg Forum, Center for International Security, Principal Researcher, Institute for World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO), Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), formerly Director of Scientific Research Institute #4, Russian Federation Defense Ministry; Joan ROHLFING, President and Chief Operating Officer of the NTI, member of the US State Department Advisory Board on Military Threat Reduction, member of the International Relations Board; Des BROWNE, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Nuclear Threat Initiative, founder and member of the Top Level Group of UK Parliamentarians for Multilateral Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (TLG) and formerly UK Minister of Defense; PAGE STOUTLAND, Vice President, NTI Scientific and Technical Affairs; Robert BERLS, NTI Senior Advisor on Russia and Eurasia; Andrew BIENIAWSKI, Vice President, NTI Material Security and Minimization; Alexey ARBATOV, Deputy Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the International Luxembourg Forum, Head of the IMEMO RAS Centre for International Security, RAS Academician and other individuals. 

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SOURCE The International Luxembourg Forum