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Mexico 'in nuclear safety pledge' Russia in plutonium disposal pact
(40 minutes later)
Mexico has pledged to eliminate all its weapons-grade uranium, the White House said, as the US hosted a 47-nation nuclear security summit. Russia is to spend $2.5bn to dispose of some of its weapons-grade plutonium under an agreement with the US to be signed at a summit on nuclear security.
Mexico will work with the US, Canada and the International Atomic Energy Agency to convert highly enriched uranium into lower-grade fuel, it said. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said his country had 34 tonnes of plutonium it did "not need any more".
On Monday, the US welcomed a similar commitment by Ukraine. The US would provide $400m in extra funding for the disposal, he added.
President Barack Obama has warned world leaders of a growing risk of nuclear attack by terrorists. Earlier, US President Barack Obama urged leaders to adopt a "new mindset" in dealing with the risk of nuclear material falling into the wrong hands.
He urged those attending the Washington summit not merely to talk, but to act to prevent nuclear material falling into the wrong hands. Since the end of the Cold War the risk of nations going to war with nuclear weapons had lessened, Mr Obama told the 47-nation summit in Washington.
Terrorist networks such as al-Qaeda have tried to acquire the material for a nuclear weapon and, if they ever succeed, they would surely use it Barack ObamaTerrorist networks such as al-Qaeda have tried to acquire the material for a nuclear weapon and, if they ever succeed, they would surely use it Barack Obama
He said that since the end of the Cold War the risk of nations going to war with nuclear weapons had lessened. But in "a cruel irony of history the risk of a nuclear attack has gone up", he added.
But in "a cruel irony of history", he said that "the risk of a nuclear attack has gone up". "For the sake of our common security, for the sake of our survival, we cannot drift. We need a new manner of thinking, and action. That is the challenge before us."
"For the sake of our common security, for the sake of our survival, we cannot drift.
"We need a new manner of thinking, and action. That is the challenge before us," Mr Obama told the assembled leaders.
He warned that a quantity of plutonium the size of an apple could wreak carnage.He warned that a quantity of plutonium the size of an apple could wreak carnage.
"Terrorist networks such as al-Qaeda have tried to acquire the material for a nuclear weapon and, if they ever succeed, they would surely use it," he said."Terrorist networks such as al-Qaeda have tried to acquire the material for a nuclear weapon and, if they ever succeed, they would surely use it," he said.
"Were they to do so, it would be a catastrophe for the world, causing extraordinary loss of life and striking a major blow at global peace and stability.""Were they to do so, it would be a catastrophe for the world, causing extraordinary loss of life and striking a major blow at global peace and stability."
Mexico earlier pledged to eliminate all its weapons-grade uranium.
The country would work with the US, Canada and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to convert highly enriched uranium into lower-grade fuel, the White House said.
Co-ordinated effortCo-ordinated effort
Leaders at the summit are expected to issue a joint statement later pledging a co-ordinated effort to secure nuclear stockpiles.Leaders at the summit are expected to issue a joint statement later pledging a co-ordinated effort to secure nuclear stockpiles.
Mr Obama also announced the next nuclear security summit would be held in South Korea in 2012.Mr Obama also announced the next nuclear security summit would be held in South Korea in 2012.
"This reflects South Korea's leadership regionally and globally," he said."This reflects South Korea's leadership regionally and globally," he said.
Iran's President Ahmadinejad has called a rival nuclear summitIran's President Ahmadinejad has called a rival nuclear summit
On the summit's sidelines, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was "very content with the progress" made.On the summit's sidelines, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was "very content with the progress" made.
"This is a first, important step to react to new, so far unknown threats," she said, according to the German DAPD news agency."This is a first, important step to react to new, so far unknown threats," she said, according to the German DAPD news agency.
The two-day summit is the biggest international meeting hosted by the US since 1945.The two-day summit is the biggest international meeting hosted by the US since 1945.
It is taking place without representatives of Iran and North Korea, neither of which were invited by the US because of disputes over their nuclear programmes.It is taking place without representatives of Iran and North Korea, neither of which were invited by the US because of disputes over their nuclear programmes.
In a defiant move, Iran has announced that it will hold its own nuclear summit in Tehran this weekend with the foreign ministers of 15 countries.In a defiant move, Iran has announced that it will hold its own nuclear summit in Tehran this weekend with the foreign ministers of 15 countries.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dropped plans to attend the Washington summit, reportedly because of concern that Muslim states planned to press for Israel to open its own nuclear facilities to international inspection.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dropped plans to attend the Washington summit, reportedly because of concern that Muslim states planned to press for Israel to open its own nuclear facilities to international inspection.
It is estimated there are about 1,600 tonnes of highly enriched uranium in the world - the type used in nuclear weapons.It is estimated there are about 1,600 tonnes of highly enriched uranium in the world - the type used in nuclear weapons.
Experts agree that virtually all of it is held by the acknowledged nuclear-weapons states, most of it in Russia.Experts agree that virtually all of it is held by the acknowledged nuclear-weapons states, most of it in Russia.
Last week, the US and Russia signed a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, reducing each country's deployed nuclear arsenal to 1,550 weapons.Last week, the US and Russia signed a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, reducing each country's deployed nuclear arsenal to 1,550 weapons.
Mr Obama has also approved a new nuclear policy for the US, saying he plans to cut the nuclear arsenal, refrain from nuclear tests and not use nuclear weapons against countries that do not have them.Mr Obama has also approved a new nuclear policy for the US, saying he plans to cut the nuclear arsenal, refrain from nuclear tests and not use nuclear weapons against countries that do not have them.