UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N.General Assembly approved a global treaty Wednesday aimed at preventing nuclearterrorism by making it a crime for would-be terrorists to possess or threatento use nuclear material.
A resolution adopted by the191-member world body without a vote calls on all countries to sign and ratifythe “International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of NuclearTerrorism.”
The treaty will be opened forsignatures Sept. 14 and must be ratified by 22 countries to come into force.
“By its action today, theGeneral Assembly has shown that it can, when it has the political will, play animportant role in the global fight again terrorism,” U.S. deputy ambassadorStuart Holliday told delegates after the vote. “The nuclear terrorismconvention, when it enters into force, will strengthen the international legalframework to combat terrorism.”
The treaty makes it a crime forany person to possess radioactive material or a radioactive device with theintent to cause death or injury, or damage property or the environment. Itwould also be a crime to use such material or devices to damage a nuclearfacility.
A person would also commit acriminal act by threatening to use radioactive material or devices. Accomplicesand organizers would also be covered by the convention.
