Nuclear Security in Serbia - Restoring the system

Seriously changed security environment and the new challenges confronting nuclear security imposed a need for fundamental rethinking of the possible threats, and major review of nuclear security systems' potentials to address these threats, at both national and global levels. In the Republic of Serbia there is awareness of the situation and determination to join efforts of world nuclear community for increasing global nuclear security, primary by improving it at the national level. Although global problems interfere with local ones in a particular way in each country, for many reasons Serbia can be considered as a highly specific. There are many constraints and difficulties in accomplishing appropriate nuclear security, which are result of diverse and dynamic developments and changes the county has been undergoing in the past. They range from the leadership in the extensive nuclear programme of the former SFRY, over the ban for nuclear power plants construction and related activities, through negligence of nuclear field, lack of funding and major deterioration of the overall nuclear security system. This paper presents the current status of the nuclear security in Serbia, efforts that have been made so far to re-establish the governmental and regulatory infrastructure that should protect nuclear and other radioactive materials, nuclear installations and transport from malicious acts, and should combat illicit trafficking. The most important issues that need to be solved urgently are outlined as well. Necessity to improve collaboration and links on the regional level, and some initiatives how to implement that are considered as well. (author)