Wednesday, Feb 23, 2011

The United States is set to provide Lithuania with portable and fixed-location radiation sensors under a newly signed agreement to bolster joint work by the countries on combating illicit nuclear material transfers, the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration announced yesterday (see GSN, Feb. 9, 2004).

The atomic agency would provide training to prepare Lithuanian personnel to spot, intercept and analyze radiological materials under the Implementation Agreement on Cooperation in Preventing Illicit Trafficking of Nuclear and Other Radioactive Material. The Lithuanian State Border Guard Service and the NNSA Second Line of Defense program since 2003 have pursued updates for radiation detection gear at certain facilities.

“Our continued partnership with Lithuania and this latest agreement represents our shared effort to prevent dangerous nuclear materials from falling into the hands of terrorists, smugglers and proliferators,” NNSA Deputy Administrator Anne Harrington said in a press release.

“By preventing terrorists or would-be proliferators from smuggling nuclear materials across international borders, we are working to implement President Obama’s unprecedented nuclear security agenda while promoting peace and security around the world”

http://www.globalsecuritynewswire.org