Albania to Become the 121st State Party to ICSANT
Five Years of Excellent Cooperation in this Field with UNODC
ICSANT is an essential instrument in preventing nuclear and radiological terrorism and improving nuclear security worldwide. Terrorists are actively seeking nuclear and other radioactive material. The transnational nature of the threat posed by radiological and nuclear terrorism requires a unanimous and coordinated response from the international community and Member States.
UNODC continues to spare no effort to promote adherence to, and effective implementation of, this Convention among Member States.
Since 2018, UNODC has been working with the Government of Albania to promote and facilitate their adherence to ICSANT. After depositing its instrument of ratification with the United Nations Secretary-General on 21 August 2023, Albania will now become the 121st party to the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT) on 20 September 2023.
Through several engagements, UNODC has worked with authorities from Albania at the policy and operational levels to highlight the importance of this treaty and the international legal framework related to radiological and nuclear terrorism. This support included the provision of practical knowledge and skills to implement these provisions, as well as on the investigation, prosecution, and adjudication of crimes involving nuclear or other radioactive material falling under the scope of ICSANT.
UNODC has worked to provide support to the following institutions during the process: Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, General Directorate of State Police, General Regulatory Directorate for Internal Affairs, the General Directorate of Customs, Institute for Applied Physics, the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Office for Radiation Protection/Institute for Public Health. Additionally, UNODC, jointly with UNOCT, briefed Parliamentarians on ICSANT and met with the Minister of State relations with the Parliament and the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament. UNODC’s work has been carried out thanks to the long-term support by the European Union.
With Albania set to become the 121st State party to ICSANT and others to follow, the safe havens for terrorists and other criminal actors to carry out acts related to or involving nuclear or other radioactive material will continue to decrease.
