The „Regional Workshop on the Evaluation of Nuclear Security Detection Architecture“, organized by RACVIAC – Centre for Security Cooperation in cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), kicked off on 9th December 2024 in RACVIAC.
RACVIAC – Centre for Security Cooperation and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) cooperated from 2016 to 2019 on a series of regional workshops on nuclear security detection architecture (NSDA), which were hosted by RACVIAC.
The IAEA is cooperating with RACVIAC once again, on a new series of three regional workshops on NSDA also hosted by RACVIAC, the last of which is a regional workshop on the evaluation of nuclear security detection architecture. After a nuclear security detection architecture (NSDA) is designed, developed and implemented, it should be reviewed and assessed, in order to verify that it addresses the functional outcomes and the prioritized gaps. The evaluation process should include the entire range of the NSDA elements: awareness, legal basis, detection strategy, implementation, human resources development and training, and exercise programme.
The Workshop was opened by H.E. Ambassador Constantin-Mihail Grigorie, RACVIAC Director and Mr. Mirza Mohamed, International Atomic Energy Agency.
Opening the Workshop, H.E. Ambassador Grigorie, RACVIAC Director expressed his sincere gratitude to all participants for dedicating their time and energy to this important initiative. „My special gratitude goes to the IAEA experts, who will share their knowledge and experience and provide us with their insights on this very important topic“, he stated.
The fruitful partnership with the IAEA began in 2016 with a series of regional workshops on nuclear security detection architecture (NSDA). This collaboration has been grounded in the mutual goal of promoting NSDA principles and practices across partner nations.
Ambassador Grigorie emphasized that this workshop represents the final session in the current series, focusing on a crucial aspect of NSDA: evaluation. Following the design and implementation phases, evaluation ensures that our systems are not only meeting their intended goals but also evolving to address newly emerging threats and challenges.
South East Europe faces a dynamic and complex security environment. Challenges such as the risk of illicit trafficking of nuclear and radioactive materials, the possibility of terrorist actions involving nuclear facilities, and the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to cyber threats demand coordinated and effective responses. „This underscores the urgency of our work to enhance regional nuclear security frameworks“, Director of RACVIAC emphasized.
Through lectures, practical exercises, and interactive discussions, this workshop will serve as a platform for learning and collaboration, allowing participants to share best practices and address common challenges. “Our collective efforts during this workshop will build on previous achievements and provide a forum for sharing of experiences, challenges, and best practices“, RACVIAC Director concluded.
International Atomic Energy Agency representative, Mr. Mirza Mohamed, said in his Opening remarks that it is good to be back in RACVIAC not only to work on the topic of the workshop but to have an opportunity to get to know each other and that building a network between different participants and experts from different regions is of the essence.
Furthermore, on behalf of IAEA, he expressed sincere gratitude to RACVIAC for this collaboration which started in 2016 and exspressed hope that it will continue. „By working together we commit to seek security of our community of peace and to enfoster the systems that we work in“, he concluded.
The event will run for five days, offering participants from RACVIAC Members, Associate Members, Uzbekistan and Kosovo* an opportunity to recognize the importance of developing measures and criteria necessary for evaluating the effectiveness of the NSDA, and will become familiar with assessment and evaluation methodologies.
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* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence. (In accordance with Arrangements regarding regional representation and cooperation.)
