BACKGROUND

In a speech to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in May 2004, U.S. Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham announced a comprehensive global initiative to secure and/or remove high-risk nuclear and other radioactive material around the world that pose a threat to the international community. This initiative will comprehensively address vulnerable nuclear and other radioactive material worldwide as expeditiously as possible, building upon existing and long-standing threat reduction efforts. This objective will be achieved by accelerating existing programs to control, secure, recover, and/or facilitate the disposition of these vulnerable materials, and by identifying and addressing any nuclear and other radioactive material not included in existing threat reduction efforts.

The United States of America, the Russian Federation, and the International Atomic Energy Agency are already working together on several major programs that are important components of the Global Threat Reduction Initiative. They include the Russian Research Reactor Fuel Return Program, the Reduced Enrichment for Research and Test Reactors Program, and the Tripartite Initiative to secure high-risk radioactive sources.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the International Partners´ Conference is to:

1. acknowledge that vulnerable, high-risk nuclear and radiological materials pose a threat to our collective security and that all states share the common objective to help reduce this threat;
2. build international support for national programs to identify, secure, recover, and/or facilitate the disposition of such high-risk nuclear and radiological materials
3. begin to build the framework for a collective effort to mitigate the common threat; and,
4. encourage all states to participate actively in the global threat reduction initiative through agreement to return, recover, secure or dispose of materials, through financial and/or technical contributions, or through in-kind assistance, on a voluntary basis or as circumstances and national resources permit.

SCOPE

The scope of the conference will include:

1. An overview of the Global Threat Reduction Initiative with an explanation of key activities and recent achievements;
2. Presentations by the United States, the Russian Federation, the IAEA and several other countries on their current threat reduction activities and recent successful threat reduction efforts; and
3. A summary of the consensus of the conference and next steps following the conference in the form of proposed Findings of the Conference.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

The Opening Session will include Keynote Addresses by the United States and the Russian Federation and remarks by the Director General of the IAEA.

The Main Session will summarize the Global Threat Reduction Initiative and will update participants on recent developments. Countries will have the opportunity to announce current activities underway and recent successes in reducing the threat posed by high-risk nuclear and other radioactive material.

In the Concluding Session, the co-sponsors of the Conference will summarize the results of the conference and present the Findings of the Conference.

PARTICIPATION

Ministerial participation is strongly encouraged. Representatives interested in participating in the Conference must complete the Participation Form (Form A, enclosed) and convey this Form to the IAEA through one of the competent official channels to the IAEA (e.g. the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the national atomic energy authority or the Permanent Mission in Vienna of the applicant´s State). Applications can be accepted only if they are conveyed to the IAEA through such official channels. On-line registration can be done through the IAEA General Conference Registration Internet form, which can be accessed directly at: https://gc-registration.iaea.org/. Registration through this online form will be considered official. Instructions on how to complete the form are provided in the on-line form itself. The specific username and password has been sent to Member States along with the information on registering for the General Conference.

Communications or questions should be addressed to the Points of Contact noted below.

VENUE

The Conference will take place at the Austria Centre in Vienna, Austria, beginning on Saturday, 18 September 200. Registration will take place on 18 September from 14:00 hours onward. The Opening Session will start at 16:00 hours followed by an evening reception starting at 18:00 hours in the Rotunda of the Austria Center. The Conference will resume at 10:00 hours on Sunday, September 19 and is expected to adjourn at about 14:00 hours.

WORKING LANGUAGE

The working languages of the Conference will be Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish. Simultaneous interpretation will be provided during all three sessions.

EXPENDITURES/GRANTS

There is no registration fee for participation in the Conference.

Funding for ministerial level participants will be provided by the sponsoring Governments and administered by the IAEA. Grant applications should be completed on Form C and submitted to the IAEA by 9 August 2004.

ACCOMODATION

Detailed information on accommodation and other administrative details will be available on this Conference web page.

VISAS

Designated participants who require a visa in order to enter Austria should submit the necessary application to the nearest diplomatic or consular representative of Austria as soon as possible. Please note that these procedures may take up to three weeks.

KEY DATES

Deadline for receipt of participation form (Form A): 22 August 2004.
Deadline for receipt of grant applications (Form C, if applicable): 9 August 2004.

CONFERENCE WEBPAGE

Please, visit this Conference web page regularly for the latest information on this Conference.

Administration and organization:

Ms. J. Zellinger
Division of Conference and Document Services
Conference Services Section
IAEA-CN-139
International Atomic Energy Agency
P.O. Box 100
Wagramer Strasse 5
A-1400 Vienna, Austria

Telephone No.:	(+43 1) 2600 21303
Telefax No.:	(+43 1) 2600 7
E-mail:	J.Zellinger@iaea.org

Ms. C. Coolbaugh
Division of Conference and Document Services
Conference Service Section
IAEA-CN-139
International Atomic Energy Agency
P.O. Box 100
Wagramer Strasse 5
A-1400 Vienna, Austria

Telephone No.:	(+43 1) 2600 21310
Telefax No.:	(+43 1) 2600 7
E-mail:	C.Coolbaugh@iaea.org

U.S Department of Energy:
Ms. Pritham Khalsa
Office of Global Threat Reduction
1000 Independence Avenue, Southwest
Washington, D.C. 20585

Telephone No.:	+1 (202) 586-2271
Telefax No.:	+1 (202) 586-6789
E-mail:	pritham.khalsa@nnsa.doe.gov

U.S. Mission:
Mrs. Lisa Hilliard (Conference Organizer)
Science Attaché
U.S. Mission to International Organizations in Vienna
Wagramer Strasse, 17-19, 37th floor
A-1220 Vienna, Austria

Telephone No.:	(+43 1) 31339-4836
Telefax No.:	(+43 1) 369-8392
E-mail:	Hilliardlg@unvie.at