After the collapse of the former Soviet Union in 1991, illicit trafficking of nuclear and other radioactive material emerged as a serious international concern. The economic and social conditions that followed the collapse left nuclear and radioactive material often poorly guarded and vulnerable to theft. In the early 1990s, Europe observed a sharp increase in nuclear smuggling incidents, as stolen nuclear and other radioactive material was brought from the former Soviet republics to Western Europe in the hope of finding a market. Since 1994, however, reported illicit trafficking incidents in Europe have declined. By contrast, since 1999 there has been an increase in such incidents in the Caucasus, Central Asia, and Turkey. Analysts have long speculated that nuclear smugglers would exploit this region--known as the southern tier--as a transit corridor.

This report looks at the illicit trafficking situation in the southern tier and Turkey in an attempt to establish whether these regions have become new routes for smuggling nuclear and other radioactive material. It discusses reported incidents of illicit trafficking in these countries, assesses their responses to the threat of trafficking, and evaluates foreign assistance provided to the region to combat this smuggling. The report concludes with recommendations for improving international anti-nuclear smuggling efforts.

This report presents the highlights of a workshop entitled "Communicating Nuclear Risk: Informing the Public about the Risks and Realities of Nuclear Terrorism" held at the Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC) of the Institute of International Studies at Stanford University on May 20, 2002.

This workshop produced several publications for use in communicating with the public: a backgrounder titled "Understanding the Risks and Realities of Nuclear Terrorism," and related fact sheets on "Dirty Bombs," "Nuclear Explosions," "Attacks on Nuclear Facilities," and "Radiation."

The events of 11 September 2001 require a major international initiative to review nuclear materials and facilities protection worldwide. Matthew and George Bunn recommend a range of specific steps to upgrade security at individual facilities and strengthen national and international standards, in order to secure nuclear material from theft and facilities from sabotage.

This article is based on a paper presented at the IAEA International Symposium on Safeguards in late 2001.

The appalling events of September 11, 2001, require a major international initiative to strengthen security for nuclear materials and facilities worldwide, and to put stringent security standards in place. This paper recommends a range of specific steps to upgrade security at individual facilities and strengthen national and international standards, with the goal of building a world in which all weapons-usable nuclear material is secure and accounted for, and all nuclear facilities are secured from sabotage, with sufficient transparency that the international community can have confidence that this is the case.