The International Atomic Energy Agency will host a major international meeting of nuclear safeguards experts from 1-5 November in Vienna to discuss ways to meet the Agency's growing nuclear verification challenges.

An estimated 700 specialists are expected to participate in the symposium, Preparing for Future Verification Challenges, where they will hear from leading safeguards experts, including these top officials on the opening day:

• Herman Nackaerts, IAEA Deputy Director General for Safeguards;
• Scott Vance, President, Institute of Nuclear Materials Management;
• Elina Martikka, President, European Safeguards Research and Development Association; and
• Gareth Evans, co-Chair, International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament.

A primary objective of the symposium is to foster dialogue and information exchange between the IAEA and experts from its Member States, the nuclear industry and the broader nuclear non-proliferation community. The focus of this year's symposium is how best to technically prepare for future verification challenges. By bringing together leading experts from around the world, this meeting aims to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to explore possible solutions to these challenges in support of the IAEA's nuclear verification.

All symposium sessions are open to the press, and meetings will be held in the M-Building of the Vienna International Centre (VIC).

Press Conference

IAEA Deputy Director General for Safeguards Herman Nackaerts and Jill Cooley, Head of the Agency's Division of Concepts and Planning will hold a press briefing on Monday, 1 November, at 10:30 a.m. in the M-Building Press Room. The two officials will discuss efforts to develop the Agency's verification tools needed to face a growing demand for nuclear safeguards. (Please Note: They will not be able to discuss safeguards implementation activities in any specific Member State).