March 3, 2015

Due to the termination of the Agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of the Republic of Belarus concerning Cooperation in the field of Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the Establishment of a Committee on this Cooperation done on 5 November 1993, the Technical Secretariat of Japan-Belarus Committee on Cooperation for the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons has winded up its activities and dissolved.

Taking this opportunity, we would like to extend our sincere appreciation to our partners for their continued cooperation and support during the mandate of the Japan-Belarus Committee.

At the same time, please be advised that the Technical Secretariats of other Committees (Japan-Russia, Japan-Ukraine and Japan-Kazakhstan) will continue its work based on the bilateral agreement with each country.

May, 2013

Ex-post Evaluation on the Project “Modernization of the System to Deter the Illicit Trafficking of Nuclear and Radioactive Materials at State Borders of the Republic of Belarus”[PDF]

October 20, 2011

1. The completion ceremony of Japan-Belarus Joint Project “Modernization of the System to Deter the Illicit Trafficking of Nuclear and Radioactive Materials at State Borders of the Republic of Belarus” was held in Minsk on 29 August, 2011, with the attendance of the representatives of the Japan-Belarus Committee on Cooperation for the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the State Border Guard Committee of the Republic of Belarus, the European Commission, the International Atomic Energy Agency and the leading radiation equipment manufacturers.
2. During the ceremony and subsequent visit to the border areas, whole response process for radiation incidents utilizing the newly-established geo-informational radiation monitoring system was demonstrated to the participants and the media.
   It was also reported that more than 1600 people had been examined for the presence of radionuclide in their bodies with the mobile radiometric laboratory since its deployment to the Pinsk Border Guard Department in April this year.
3. The swift implementation of the Project was highly appreciated by the Belarusian Government as well as other international bodies, all of which echoed the importance of synergy effect of various cooperation projects in combating illicit trafficking of nuclear and radioactive materials in the region.

Completion ceremony	Geo-informational radiation monitoring system
Introduction of the mobile laboratories provided under the Project	Search of the radiation source in the vehicle which triggered alarm
Radiation portal monitors at border checkpoints	Search of the radiation source in the vehicle which triggered alarm
Hand-held detector with pocket PC type radionuclide identifier provided under the Project	Radiation incident response point established under the Project
Logo of Japan-Belarus cooperation	Interviews with local media

May 24, 2011

1. On 25 April, 2011, the official handover ceremony on Japan-Belarus Project “Modernization of the System to Deter the Illicit Trafficking of Nuclear and Radioactive Materials at State Borders of the Republic of Belarus” was held at the Border Guard Institute in Minsk, capital of Belarus.
2. During the ceremony, four mobile laboratories and a specialized classroom for radiation security, established under the Project, were introduced to the Japanese delegation and the press.
3. After the ceremony, the mobile laboratories were immediately relocated to their duty stations including Pinsk and Gomel Border Guard Departments near the Chernobyl-affected areas to respond to illicit trafficking of nuclear and radioactive materials and ensure radiation safety of the border guard staff and local population. The whole Project is expected to be completed in July.

Four mobile laboratories and their crew	Speeches by the government officials
Ribbon cutting by the government officials	Press interview
Specialized class room for radiation security in the Border Guard Institute	Radiation detectors and communication devices for response to radiological incidents at state borders (mobile operational response laboratory)
Measurement of incorporated radionuclides of the border guard personal with the whole body counter (mobile radiometric laboratory)	Analysis of food samples with the gamma radioactivity monitor (mobile radiometric laboratory)

July 16, 2010

1. The Japan-Belarus Committee on Cooperation in the field of Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (hereinafter the Japan-Belarus Committee) has decided to provide funds up to 90 million Japanese yen (approx. 1 million USD) for implementation of the Project “Modernization of the System to Deter the Illicit Trafficking of Nuclear and Radioactive Materials at State Borders of the Republic of Belarus”. The signing ceremony for the Project was held on July 2, 2010 in Minsk between the Japan-Belarus Committee and the State Border Committee of the Republic of Belarus (implementing organization).
2. The Project is aimed at establishing comprehensive measures to detect, interdict and respond to the illicit trafficking of nuclear and radioactive materials at the state borders of the Republic of Belarus, including the following measures:
   1) organizing the immediate and efficient operational response to radiological incidents at the border checkpoints including the airport ones;
   2) facilitating the strategic response to radiological incidents with serious security and health concerns;
   3) supporting the integrated database of illicit trafficking of nuclear and radioactive materials at the borders;
   4) strengthening the radiation safety of the border guard staff engaged in patrol of the border areas contaminated by the Chernobyl catastrophe and the local inhabitants in the area;
   5) increasing the radiation detection capabilities at the local-traffic border checkpoints, water border sites, aviation patrol areas and “green borders” ;
   6) and enhancing the proficiency of the border guard specialists in radiation security and countermeasures against the illicit trafficking of nuclear and radioactive materials.
   (Note) Green borders: unattended areas between established border checkpoints.
3. The major elements of the Project are as follows.
   1) Two mobile operational response laboratories equipped with advanced radiation detectors, spectrometers and communication devices will be provided to the Gomel and Pinsk Border Guard Departments.
   2) One mobile strategic operational response laboratory equipped with advanced radiation detectors, spectrometers and communication devices will be provided to the State Border Committee Headquarters in Minsk.
   3) One mobile radiometric laboratory furnished with a whole body counter and gamma radioactivity monitors will be supplied to the Pinsk Border Guard Department
   4) The state-of-art geo-information system for radiation monitoring will be introduced to the headquarters and 7 regional border guard departments.
   5) Advanced handheld radiation detectors will be provided for border radiation monitoring in 34 local-traffic checkpoints, water border sites, aviation patrol areas and “green borders”.
   6) Advanced radiation detectors and spectrometers will be supplied to the newly-established Border Guard Institute for training of the border guard specialists.

Republic of Belarus	Radiation detection at border checkpoints	Green borders