Nuclear Summit org. “watching Ukraine closely”

With but a few weeks to go before The Hague hosts the Nuclear Security Summit NSS, organizers say they see no reason to worry yet about it being sidelined by the ongoing standoff in Ukraine.

“Minister (Frans) Timmermans has said that three weeks is a long time. A lot can still happen and we continue to follow the developments in Ukraine closely,” said Rense Weide, one of the spokespersons of the NSS.

The March 24 and 25 summit high level meeting that aims “to prevent nuclear terrorism” takes place in the midst of the crisis in Ukraine, with Moscow rebuffing Western diplomatic efforts to persuade it to pull forces out of the southern Crimea region.

While it remains unclear what impact the Crimean moves will have, NSS spokesman Weide said all countries that are signatories of nuclear treaties have been invited and all are expected to send delegations. “We expect the summit will take place as scheduled,” he said.

The nuclear summit is expected to bring 58 world leaders, 5,000 delegates and 3,000 journalists to The Hague. Host country the Netherlands hopes the summit “produces a compelling joint communique that is supported by all the world leaders and organizations present.”

The NSS website says that preparations are progressing well and that there is good awareness in the Dutch community of the conference objectives and the possibilities that the presence of so many world leaders in The Hague could disrupt their daily lives for two days.