Obama Endorses Work of Nuclear Experts Group

fissile materials working group

The Fissile Materials Working Group (FMWG), a nongovernmental coalition of over 40 U.S. experts representing many of the top nonproliferation and nuclear security organizations in the country and also includes several international partner organizations. Members of the FMWG collaborate in a series of meetings designed to create consensus behind top fissile materials priorities, develop actionable policy proposals, and package recommendations for implementation by U.S. and foreign government officials.

The FMWG has been a forceful presence in support of improved fissile material security and the prevention of nuclear terrorism. Important milestones for the FMWG include the publication of its consensus recommendations to the Obama Administration for improving nuclear material security (September 2009); the convening of a summit of international experts and supporting events in support of the official Nuclear Security Summit (April 2010); and a series of regional meetings to explore international perspectives on nuclear security (October 2010 - April 2011). These activities highlight the urgency of this agenda and engage a broad array of international stakeholders. Please click here for a summary of the FMWG's acitivites to date. To view the FMWG's condensed work plan, please click here.

Media Contact:
Sean Harder
sharder@stanleyfoundation.org
319-455-6397

The Steering Committee is comprised of the following professionals:

Kenneth N. Luongo, President, Partnership for Global Security (co-chair)
Alexandra Toma, Executive Director, Connect U.S. Fund (co-chair)
Matthew Bunn, Associate Professor of Public Policy; Co-Principal Investigator, Project on Managing the Atom; Co-Principal Investigator, Energy Research, Development, Demonstration, and Deployment (ERD3) Policy Project, Harvard University
Togzhan Kassenova, Associate, Nuclear Policy Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Miles Pomper, Senior Research Associate, James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies
Jennifer Smyser, Program Officer, Policy and Outreach, The Stanley Foundation
Sharon Squassoni, Director and Senior Fellow, Proliferation Prevention Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies
Benn Tannenbaum, Non-Resident Fellow, Center for Science, Technology, and Security Policy, American Association for the Advancement of Science
Paul Walker, Director, Security & Sustainability, Global Green USA

Key Staff:

Ryan Costello

FMWG Coordinator

Rcostello@connectusfund.org

202-721-5600 x. 5724

Michelle Marchesano
mmarchesano@partnershipforglobalsecurity.org
202-332-1412

Release Date:

4/12/2010

President Barack Obama today endorsed the work of the Fissile Materials Working Group (FMWG), a coalition of more than 40 leading experts and NGOs in nuclear security and nonproliferation, for its insights and efforts to educate the public about the importance of securing all nuclear materials worldwide.

“As we work to secure all nuclear materials from theft and diversion, we will need your expertise,” Obama wrote. “Your insights will make a crucial difference in global efforts to educate others about the threat nuclear weapons pose and our response to that threat; in securing all nuclear materials through additional domestic and international measures; and in stopping cross-border trafficking in illicit materials and technology.”

“Your support will also be critical in helping the world understand that the dangers facing one nation can affect all states, and that terrorist attacks are an affront to all civilians. A nuclear device in the hands of a terrorist group threats civilization and humanity everywhere, and we must prevent this from happening.”

A full version of the letter can be seen attached to this release at www.fmwg.org.

The FMWG today hosts its Next Generation Nuclear Security event, a parallel summit of leading nuclear security experts and non-governmental organizations from countries participating in the official summit. The event will be webcast live here: http://ow.ly/1u5g9

The link will remain active and lead to edited, archived video following the event.

The upcoming Nuclear Security Summit offers an historic opportunity to forge new agreements to secure nuclear materials worldwide and prevent them from falling into the hands of terrorists, FMWG experts told reporters last week at the National Press Club.

Journalists reporting on the Nuclear Security Summit are invited to join an online press briefing with FMWG experts on Tuesday afternoon.

WHEN: The press briefing will begin 30 MINUTES following the conclusion of President Obama’s press conference scheduled in the afternoon of Tuesday, April 13. The press briefing will continue for 60 minutes and go longer if necessary to accommodate questions.

HOW: Go to ow.ly/1wyBu and enter your name, email, and password: NUCLEARsummit413
Call 1-866-699-3239 and enter the access code: 572 965 658 (You must call in to hear the briefing, even if logged in online)

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