RUSSIA: Russia cast as nuclear security leader despite flaws

Sunday, April 11, 2010; 6:16 PM

By Steve Gutterman, Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The nuclear security summit starting on Monday is a chance for Russia to promote itself as a global leader on the crucial issue, but experts say Moscow must do more to safeguard its own big stocks of bomb ingredients.

Almost two decades after the Soviet collapse spawned nightmares about the seizure of nuclear materials from poorly guarded facilities or theft by desperate employees, Russia says its nuclear materials are reliably protected.

It has recast itself as a champion of nuclear security worldwide, initiating an international treaty against nuclear terrorism that came into force in 2007 and joining the United States in creating a global grouping to set strategies.

Following last week's signing of a nuclear arms reduction treaty with President Barack Obama, the summit gives Russian President Dmitry Medvedev another chance to portray his country as a linchpin of international security.

"Russia wants to be seen as a leader, with the U.S. and other countries, of the global effort to prevent nuclear terrorism," said Matthew Bunn, a nuclear expert at Harvard University. "And they are a leader, in important ways."

But despite dramatic improvements in the protection of Russia's nuclear materials, funded in large part by billions of dollars in U.S. assistance, experts say threats remain.

"To say this problem was left behind in the 1990s would be wrong," said Vladimir Chuprov, Greenpeace Russia's energy projects chief. "Russia remains a risk zone in terms of the physical security and physical protection of nuclear materials."

The most glaring gaps have been fixed, vastly reducing the chances of a break-in at one of the 235 buildings across Russia where highly enriched uranium or plutonium separated from spent fuel are kept. There are also more than 100 weapons-related sites, including temporary areas such as rail transfer buildings.

INSIDER THEFT

"You don't have gaping holes in fences anymore," Bunn said, or "no detector at all to set off an alarm if someone is carrying plutonium out in their suitcase."

But the potential for theft by insiders -- who have been involved in all explained thefts of highly enriched uranium or plutonium -- is still a concern, particularly in a country where corruption is widespread.

Imperfect accounting for nuclear materials is a related weakness, he said, and some materials are protected with "wax or lead seals that are pretty much the same technology Louis XIV was using to seal his letters."

Many sites are guarded by inexperienced and poorly paid Interior Ministry conscripts, and official complacency is also a potential problem.

"One key question is whether the Russian government will really assign the resources needed to sustain the security measures that have been put in place for the long haul," Bunn said.

Like the 'New START' treaty Medvedev and Obama signed on Thursday, joint efforts to improve nuclear security showcase cooperation between the Cold War foes in tackling the threatening legacy of their nuclear arms race.

Iran's defiant nuclear program is not a focus of the summit but will likely be discussed on the sidelines. Russia has signaled it could support new sanctions against Tehran but would not back measures it considers misdirected or overly harsh.

(Editing by Philip Barbara)

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