Global Arab Network | EU helps Lebanon control movement of radioactive material

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EU helps Lebanon control movement of radioactive material

Global Arab Network - - George Haddad

Sunday, 10 January 2010 00:54

The work of an EU-funded project that assists Lebanon in strengthening its infrastructure to ensure better border control on the movement of radioactive material is the focus of the latest Eurojar article published in the Lebanese daily LOrient LeJour.

The feature said the project, launched in August 2008 with a budget of €2.1 million and implemented by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has a long term vision and impact that extends to other sectors including trade, security and public health. "There was a need to modernise the detection and border control systems. This control is accomplished by installing metal detectors for legal or illegal radioactive material, whether declared or not," says Customs Consultant Helen Nasr.

The project consists of two components: the first one is the installation of a network to detect radioactive materials at borders; the second is the establishment of an institutional infrastructure and cooperation between various stakeholders to strengthen the national response mechanisms.

Under the project, most of the equipment has been purchased, the installation of metal detectors is underway and handheld equipment to be used by patrols is already available. "The training will begin during the first quarter of 2010, and the programme will be included in the curriculum of the Institute of Finance for purposes of long-term vision and sustainability," said Marc Maouad, the project’s manager. Training sessions for trainers are already completed, while the curriculum is being developed.

Eurojar is one of 13 projects funded across the ENPI under EuropeAid’s €19 million Regional Information and Communication Programme, which seeks to increase awareness and understanding among the citizens of the area, about the EU, its policies and relations with their countries. The Eurojar budget amounts to €1.5 million and the project will last for one year.

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