International community would now be safer: Obama

I / Washington April 14, 2010, 11:53 IST

Satisfied with the outcome of the Nuclear Security Summit, which vowed to lock down all nuclear materials in four years and prevent terrorist groups from laying a hand on it, US President Barack Obama today said the world will be more secure now.

"We have seized this opportunity, and because of the steps we've taken - as individual nations and as an international community - the American people will be safer and the world will be more secure," Obama told reporters after conclusion of the two-day conference attended by leaders from 47 nations including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

"Today's progress was possible because these leaders came not simply to talk, but to take action; not simply to make vague pledges of future action, but to commit to meaningful steps that they are prepared to implement right now," Obama said terming the summit as a day of great success.

"We also agreed that the most effective way to prevent terrorists and criminals from acquiring nuclear materials is through strong nuclear security -- protecting nuclear materials and preventing nuclear smuggling," he said.

He said that today is a testament to what is possible when nations come together in a spirit of partnership to embrace their shared responsibility and confront a shared challenge.

"This is how we will solve problems and advance the security of our people in the 21st century. And this is reflected in the communique that we have unanimously agreed to today," he said.

"We agreed on the urgency and seriousness of the threat. Coming into this summit, there were a range of views on this danger. But at our dinner last night, and throughout the day, we developed a shared understanding of the risk," he said, adding that at the summit world leaders have declared that nuclear terrorism is one of the most challenging threats to international security.

"I am very pleased that all the nations represented here have endorsed the goal that I outlined in Prague one year ago -- to secure all vulnerable nuclear materials around the world in four years' time. This is an ambitious goal, and we are under no illusions that it will be easy. But the urgency of the threat, and the catastrophic consequences of even a single act of nuclear terrorism, demand an effort that is at once bold and pragmatic. And this is a goal that can be achieved," he asserted.

The world leaders reaffirmed that it is the fundamental responsibility of nations, consistent with their international obligations, to maintain effective security of the nuclear materials and facilities under their control.