PH gets Atoms for Peace award in nuclear summit
DOST Secretary Mario G. Montejo (seated, leftmost) accepts the Atoms for Peace Award at the awards luncheon of the Nuclear Industry Summit, an official side event of the 2016 Nuclear Security Summit, held from March 31 and April 1 in Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Philippines was honored at an awards luncheon of the Nuclear Industry Summit (NIS) March 31 for “global leadership for the removal of all highly enriched uranium from its territory and other contributions to nuclear security.”
Secretary Mario G. Montejo of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), head of the Philippine delegation at the 2016 Nuclear Security Summit (NSS), accepted the Atoms for Peace Award at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C.
The Atoms for Peace Award “is an acknowledgement of our country’s efforts to promote nuclear security at the international level,” Montejo said. “Nuclear security is a responsibility of all states, big and small, and it begins with each country’s commitment to bolster national capacities to address safety and non-proliferation concerns.”
Members of the Philippine delegation who were with Montejo at the awards luncheon were Philippine Ambassador to Austria Maria Zeneida Angara-Collinson, Assistant Secretary for Defense Raymund Quilop and Philippine Nuclear Research Institute Officer-in-Charge and Director Dr. Soledad Castañeda.
The other recipients of the Atoms for Peace Awards are the Federal Republic of Brazil, Republic of Chile, Czech Republic, Kingdom of Denmark, Georgia, Hungary, Republic of Korea, United Mexican States, Romania, Kingdom of Spain, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Thailand, Republic of Turkey, Ukraine and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
The 2016 NIS brings together about 350 nuclear industry executives who issued a joint statement stressing their commitment to nuclear security, safety and cooperation with governments. It is an official side event of the 2016 Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) that is being hosted by US President Barack Obama from 31 March to 01 April.
Both NIS and NSS were started in 2010 after President Obama announced an international effort to secure vulnerable nuclear materials, break up black markets, and detect and intercept illicitly trafficked materials.
The first Nuclear Security Summit was held in Washington, D.C. in 2010, and was followed by additional Summits in Seoul in 2012 and The Hague in 2014.
The 2016 NSS gathers the leaders of more than 50 countries to discuss the strengthening of existing regulatory organizations and other safeguards in view of the growing threat of nuclear terrorism.
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