(Aug. 23: U.S. Department of Energy press release) (810)
The successful transfer of highly enriched weapons-quality uranium
from
the Vinca nuclear reactor near Belgrade to a facility in Russia on
August
22 represents "important forward progress for both U.S. and
international
nuclear nonproliferation efforts," said Energy Secretary
Spencer Abraham,
adding that this cooperation "greatly reduces the risk that
such material
can be used as a terrorist weapon."
The material was moved to Dmitrovgrad, Russia, and according to
the
Department of Energy, it will be converted to low-enriched uranium for
use
as commercial reactor fuel under DOE's Material Conversion
and
Consolidation Project.
Praising Russian Minister of Atomic Energy Alexander Rumyantsev for
"his
personal commitment and his Ministry's critical cooperation," Abraham
said
this U.S.-Russian collaboration "is dramatic evidence of the
momentous
progress we have made in our relationship."
Following is the text of a DOE press release on the project:
(begin text)
Department of Energy
Washington, D.C.
August 23, 2002
SECRETARY ABRAHAM COMMENDS INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN SUCCESSFUL
MISSION
TO REMOVE BELGRADE URANIUM
"Important Forward Progress for Both U.S. and International
Nuclear
Nonproliferation Efforts"
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham today praised
the
successful collaborative mission to remove a significant quantity
of
highly enriched uranium from the Vinca Institute near Belgrade
as
"important forward progress for both U.S. and international
nuclear
nonproliferation efforts."
Working in conjunction with officials from the Department of State
and
International Atomic Energy (IAEA), experts from Department of
Energy's
Office of International Material Protection and Cooperation played
a
pivotal role in the removal Thursday of approximately 50 kg. of
highly
enriched uranium from the Vinca Institute. The DOE team from Oak
Ridge
National Laboratory monitored all technical aspects of the operation
at
Vinca, including development of the operational plan, verification of
the
material's type and weight, its packaging and safe transport.
"This type of international cooperation greatly reduces the risk that
such
material can be used as a terrorist weapon," Secretary Abraham said.
"It
is a model of how governments, the international community, and
the
private sector can work together to reduce the threat posed by
these
materials to the citizens of the world. International
nonproliferation
efforts are most successful when they are based on
cooperative efforts
like this one. I commend Russian Minister of Atomic
Energy Alexander
Rumyantsev for his personal commitment and his Ministry's
critical
cooperation in this operation."
Abraham noted that upon arrival in Dmitrovgrad, Russia, the material
will
be converted to low-enriched uranium under the Department's
Material
Conversion and Consolidation Project, thereby eliminating this
material as
a proliferation threat. In Dmitrovgrad, DOE technical experts
will confirm
the arrival of the material and the integrity of the shipment.
In addition
to providing key technical expertise and personnel, the Energy
Department
will spend approximately $400,000 on this operation.
"This U.S./Russian collaborative effort is dramatic evidence of
the
momentous progress we have made in our relationship," Abraham said.
The Vinca Project involved complex international and
public-private
cooperation. The governments of the United States and Russia
reached an
agreement with the government of Serbia, endorsed by the
Yugoslav
government, to work with the International Atomic Energy Agency to
return
the material to Russia. The private, Nuclear Threat Initiative played
an
important supporting role for this effort by providing funding to
help
address the safety and environmental issues presented by the spent
nuclear
fuel remaining at the Vinca Institute.
On August 7th, Abraham returned from his second mission to Moscow
to
discuss nuclear non-proliferation efforts between the United States
and
Moscow. In Moscow, he had a series of meetings with his
Russian
counterpart, Minister Rumyantsev, to further the expansion
and
acceleration of programs to account for and secure nuclear
materials.
Abraham and Rumyantsev will meet again to continue their talks at
the
upcoming International Atomic Energy Agency conference in Vienna
on
September 15-17.
Media Contact: Jeanne Lopatto, 202/586-4940
Release No.
N-02-169
Release Date: August 23, 2002
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs,
U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
NNNN
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