Text 547, 72 rader
Skriven 2005-02-24 23:32:58 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0502248) for Thu, 2005 Feb 24
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Joint Statement by President Bush and President Putin on Nuclear Security
Cooperation
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
February 24, 2005

Joint Statement by President Bush and President Putin on Nuclear Security
Cooperation



The United States and Russia will enhance cooperation to counter one of the
gravest threats our two countries face, nuclear terrorism. We bear a
special responsibility for the security of nuclear weapons and fissile
material, in order to ensure that there is no possibility such weapons or
materials would fall into terrorist hands. While the security of nuclear
facilities in the U.S. and Russia meet current requirements, we stress that
these requirements must be constantly enhanced to counter the evolving
terrorist threats. Building on our earlier work, we announce today our
intention to expand and deepen cooperation on nuclear security with the
goal of enhancing the security of nuclear facilities in our two countries
and, together with our friends and allies, around the globe.

To this end the United States and Russia will continue and expand their
cooperation on emergency response capability to deal with the consequences
of a nuclear/radiological incident, including the development of additional
technical methods to detect nuclear and radioactive materials that are, or
may be, involved in the incident.

We will work together to help ensure full implementation of UN Security
Council Resolution 1540 and early adoption of an International Convention
on Nuclear Terrorism and the amended Convention on Physical Protection of
Nuclear Material.

U.S. and Russian experts will share "best practices" for the sake of
improving security at nuclear facilities, and will jointly initiate
security "best practices" consultations with other countries that have
advanced nuclear programs. Our experts will convene in 2005 a senior-level
bilateral nuclear security workshop to focus increased attention on the
"security culture" in our countries including fostering disciplined,
well-trained, and responsible custodians and protective forces, and fully
utilized and well-maintained security systems.

The United States and Russia will continue to work jointly to develop
low-enriched uranium fuel for use in any U.S.- and Russian-design research
reactors in third countries now using high-enriched uranium fuel, and to
return fresh and spent high-enriched uranium from U.S.- and Russian-design
research reactors in third countries.

The United States and Russia will continue our cooperation on security
upgrades of nuclear facilities and develop a plan of work through and
beyond 2008 on joint projects. Recognizing that the terrorist threat is
both long-term and constantly evolving, in 2008 our countries will assess
the joint projects and identify avenues for future cooperation consistent
with our increased attention to the security culture in both countries.

We have established a bilateral Senior Interagency Group chaired by
Secretary of Energy Bodman and Rosatom Director Rumyantsev for cooperation
on nuclear security to oversee implementation of these cooperative efforts.
A progress report will be due on July 1, 2005, and thereafter on a regular
basis.

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