20100412
BUA NEWS

Pretoria — President Jacob Zuma is among world leaders participating in the Nuclear Security Summit which aims to find effective measures to secure nuclear material and to prevent nuclear terrorism.

South Africa hopes that the summit would push international cooperation to ensure safety of nuclear materials and facilities, as well as the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

South Africa gave up its pursuit of nuclear weapons in 1993 making it the first and only country to start abandoning a weapons programme voluntarily.

It has also consistently condemned acts of terrorism and shares the international community's concern over nuclear security.

"South Africa maintains that it is important for countries to pool their resources and work together through strengthened multilateral institutions to combat all forms of organised transnational crime, including terrorism," said Zuma's office.

Zuma, who arrived in Washington on Sunday, held a bilateral meeting with convener, US President Barack Obama ahead of the two-day summit.

During the meeting, Obama praised South Africa for being the first country to abandon a nuclear weapons programme.

With the summit, the United States is hoping leaders and representatives from 47 countries can agree on specific steps to make nuclear material more secure, preventing terrorists from acquiring nuclear materials and weapons.

Zuma is being accompanied by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Minister of Energy Dipuo Peters, Minister of State Security Siyabonga Cwele among other senior government officials.