Webster Vienna Sponsors Seminar on
Nuclear Non-Proliferation


by Mag. Verena Karlsson
Dept. Head, Vienna Alumni & Development Programs

Attendees of Webster Vienna's Oct. 29 seminar on nuclear non-proliferation

The Webster University Vienna Alumni Association, in association with the Webster University Vienna International Relations Department, presented a seminar titled "Nuclear Non-Proliferation: Challenges and Opportunities" on October 29, 2009. The one-day seminar was held at the Japanese Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Vienna and was co-chaired by Dr. Gregory Weeks, Head of the International Relations Department at Webster University Vienna, and Dr. Kaluba Chitumbo, former director at the International Atomic Energy Agency, Department of Safeguards.

The seminar's opening panel

The purpose of the seminar was to encourage alumni, students, and intellectuals to develop independent and original thoughts on nuclear non-proliferation issues rather than just accepting conventional wisdom and views. It also sought to inspire participants to engage in nuclear non-proliferation problem-solving initiatives that are currently under way and create solutions to future challenges.

The seminar comprised eight presentations on these issues: the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the UN Security Council, the role of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), the role of The European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM), the role of nuclear-weapon-free zones, the role of the nuclear suppliers group, the North Korea and Iran nuclear issue, covert nuclear trade, and the US – India agreement.

A participant asks a question at the Vienna campus' seminar on nuclear non-proliferation last fall

Speakers included Ambassador Soltanieh of Iran; Ambassador Kumar of India; Mark Fitzpatrick, Director of the Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Program of the International Institute for Strategic Studies; Dr. Tariq Rauf of the IAEA; Tibor Toth of the CTBTO; Ambassador Gumbi of South Africa; Prof. Heinz Gartner of the University of Vienna; and Geoffrey Pyatt, Deputy Chief of the U.S. Mission to International Organizations in Vienna.

The Webster-led symposium challenged guest speakers and participants to tackle challenges of nuclear non-proliferation, including challenges in the implementation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as well as NPT as such. The seminar was concluded by a panel discussion that addressed issues and questions arising from the presentations, especially Iran’s role and complement to the NPT and the India-US agreement.

Webster University's seminar on Nuclear Non- Proliferation was a unique opportunity to hear experts discuss security and political aspects of nuclear non-proliferation in an academic setting. The seminar was concluded by Webster’s Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, Dr. David Wilson, who thanked speakers, the around 160 guests, and the Permanent Mission of Japan for providing such a valuable opportunity for dialogue.