Fall 2022 Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Short Course

The VCDNP welcomed its 24^th cohort of diplomats and practitioners for an intensive short course on non-proliferation and disarmament issues. From 3 to 7 October 2022, 21 participants from 18 countries explored topics that are at the top of the Vienna agenda, including nuclear safeguards, the security of nuclear facilities, peaceful uses of nuclear energy, arms control, and the global non-proliferation regime. In addition to lectures and panel discussions, the participants also toured key facilities at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO).

The course was key in preparing participants for their assignments as diplomats posted to the international organisations in Vienna and practitioners in their respective capitals. The shared learning experience also offered many opportunities for networking among participants and with various experts providing instruction for the course. The VCDNP was pleased to host a diverse cohort with 76% of participants representing developing countries and 43% of participants women.

A highlight of the Fall 2022 course was a panel discussion reflecting on the Tenth NPT Review Conference with Ambassador Alexander Kmentt of Austria, Ambassador Laura Holgate of the United States, Ambassador Dominika Krois of Poland and Ambassador Philbert Johnson of Ghana. The panellists discussed the central debates and outcomes of the Conference in the face of momentous challenges, as well as their implications for the work of the diplomatic community and international organizations in Vienna.

The course also included:

• Presentations on nuclear weapons capabilities and challenges in arms control by VCDNP Senior Fellow Nikolai Sokov
• Lectures on the nuclear fuel cycle and implementation of IAEA safeguards by senior IAEA experts Marc Humphrey and Ania Kaminski
• An overview of the history and development of IAEA safeguards by Laura Rockwood, former Section Head for Non-Proliferation and Policy Making in the IAEA’s Office of Legal Affairs
• Insights into nuclear diplomacy, including the NPT and nuclear-weapon-free zones, as well as Iran’s nuclear program and the JCPOA by the Director of VCDNP’s International Organizations and Non-Proliferation Programme Gaukhar Mukhatzhanova
• A lecture on the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty by Mohammad Daryaei, Special Assistant to the Executive Secretary of the CTBTO
• A discussion of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and its First Meeting of States Parties with the President of the meeting Ambassador Alexander Kmentt
• An exploration of the WMD-Free Zone and arms control issues in the Middle East with VCDNP Senior Research Associate Hanna Notte
• A presentation on the nexus between peaceful uses of nuclear technology and nuclear security by VCDNP Senior Research Associate Ingrid Kirsten
• A lecture on nuclear security issues in the past and future by VCDNP Executive Director Elena K. Sokova
• A case study of North Korea’s nuclear programme by Open Nuclear Network Analyst Jaewoo Shin and VCDNP Research Associate Noah Mayhew
• A presentation on nuclear energy production and different reactor types by VCDNP Research Intern Juan Gomez

Course participants were introduced to behind-the-scenes operations at the IAEA and CTBTO during a visit to the Vienna International Centre. They toured the Incident and Emergency Centre, from where the IAEA has been coordinating its support to the Zaporizhzhia and Chernobyl nuclear facilities, as well as CTBTO radionuclide and seismological monitoring stations and the International Data Centre.

In an anonymous survey, 100% of participants rated the Fall 2022 course as excellent or good, saying that they would recommend it to colleagues and counterparts.

Participants ranked the diversity of issues covered, the expertise and professionalism of speakers, and high quality of the lectures as the top three characteristics of the course.

“The course covered a very good mixture of nuclear and non-proliferation issues. This learning experience will help me to do my job better.”

 “What I liked best was the comparability between theoretical frameworks and practical case studies as well as the presenters. The course explained technical issues in a way that was easily understandable.”

“I will definitely recommend the course to other colleagues, especially to those who are posted in Vienna for the first time.”

The VCDNP extends its thanks to the Carnegie Corporation of New York for their generous support of our capacity-building and training activities.