Title: TEXT: DOE STATEMENT ON PENA, U.S.-KAZAKHSTAN JOINT COMMISSION (Announces advances in U.S.-Kazakhstan nuclear cooperation)
Date: 19971119
Text:
Washington -- U.S. Secretary of
Energy Federico Pena signed three agreements with Kazakhstan aimed at advancing peaceful nuclear safety, security, and technology cooperation between the two countries, the Energy Department announced.
Pena signed the agreements with First Deputy Prime Minister Akhmetzan Yesimov and Minister of Science Vladimir Shkolnik November 18 during the U.S.-Kazakhstan Joint Commission meeting, which was co-chaired by Vice President Al Gore and Kazakhstani President Nursultan Nazarbayev.
Following is the text of the DOE announcement:
(Begin text)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY November 18, 1997
ENERGY SECRETARY ANNOUNCES ADVANCES IN U.S.-KAZAKHSTAN NUCLEAR COOPERATION
Secretary of Energy Federico Pena, in meetings of the U.S.-Kazakhstan Joint Commission chaired by Vice President Al Gore and Kazakhstani President Nursultan Nazarbayev this week, today announced advances in peaceful nuclear safety, security, and technology cooperation between the two countries. The Secretary signed three agreements with First Deputy Prime Minister Akhmetzan Yesimov and Minister of Science Vladimir Shkolnik today.
The agreement on peaceful nuclear cooperation sets the stage for sharing U.S. nuclear technology, material, and equipment for nuclear research and nuclear power while contributing to the two countries' commitments to nonproliferation goals. In announcing the agreement, Secretary Pena commended Kazakhstan's progress in moving quickly to denuclearize and join international nonproliferation efforts, including upgrading the security and safety of nuclear materials in the country. Under the peaceful uses agreement, the United States will assist former military institutes and facilities in Kazakhstan in advancing these goals even further by encouraging their expansion into research and commercial ventures.
The officials also signed an implementing agreement to secure, stabilize, and store spent fuel from the BN-350 nuclear reactor at Aktau, Kazakhstan. Long-term management of the materials will be in compliance with International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards. This action contributes to the two countries' nonproliferation objectives by securing nuclear materials against potential diversion or use. The project builds on existing bilateral cooperation in nuclear material protection, control, accounting, and safety.
The third area of agreement was a commitment by the United States and Kazakhstan to enhance nuclear safety in Kazakhstan through scientific and technological cooperation. This agreement provides: safety support, including equipment and technology, to be used to achieve safe operation and safe shutdown of the BN-350 reactor; assistance on safe, secure storage of BN-350 spent fuel; and training, information exchange, and performance of joint studies to ensure the safety of nuclear systems in Kazakhstan. The agreement, in the form of an annex to an existing agreement between the U.S. Department of Energy and Ministry of Science-Academy of Sciences in Kazakhstan on scientific research and development, also provides a framework for the United States to support the newly established Kazakhstan Nuclear Technology Safety Center.
(End text) NNNN
Product Name: WASHINGTON FILE
Document Type: TEXT
Keywords: PENA; KAZAKHSTAN; NAZARBAYEV; OIL; 1B/lf
Thematic Codes: 1b
Languages: ENGLISH
Originating Team: 97111904.GWE
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
