After the collapse of the Soviet Union, most of the nuclear sites in Kazakhstan territory - strategic defence bases, weapons test sites, and research institutions developing nuclear technologies for defence and space purposes - were liquidated or reoriented to peaceful endeavours. The Soviet system of control over handling of nuclear and radioactive materials was dismantled, and new measures are of limited efficacy. National defence potential and lawenforcement efficiency have been eroded. Laws addressing nuclear terrorism also require upgrading. There have been cases of illicit trafficking of nuclear and radioactive materials. This situation is open to exploitation by radical terrorist groups. Due to its geographical location, the Republic of Kazakhstan is a transit route for nuclear and radioactive materials from other former-Soviet countries, therefore, an efficient system to combat nuclear terrorism is of the utmost priority. Major nuclear research institutions and substations were consolidated into the Republican State Enterprise National Nuclear Centre of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Many of the Centre's activities are focused on preventing nuclear terrorism, including: projects to dismantle the infrastructure of former nuclear sites; withdrawal of nuclear materials from circulation by placement in long term storage; and seismological monitoring of nuclear weapons test site activity. Close co-operation between scientists at the Centre with regulatory authorities such as the Kazakhstan Atomic Energy Committee, the Sanitary-Epidemiological Service and law enforcement agencies should foster the creation both of an efficient system for detection of nuclear materials and for combating and preventing nuclear terrorism in Kazakhstan.
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