01 April 1998
TEXT: U.S., RUSSIA TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES IN FORMER CLOSED CITIES
(Pledge to support civilian ventures in once-closed cities) (580) Moscow -- U.S. Secretary of Energy Federico Pena and Yevgeniy Adamov, Russian acting minister of atomic energy, pledged to support economic opportunities in cities that make up the Russian nuclear weapons production complex, according to the Department of Energy. The announcement said that scientific and technical projects which team the Department's national laboratories with Russian nuclear institutes will be focused on creating civilian ventures in these formerly "closed" cities. "We have made significant progress in securing nuclear materials to reduce the worldwide risk of nuclear proliferation," said Secretary Pena. "We are now turning to a new area discussed during recent bilateral commission talks led by Vice President Gore: broadening U.S. support to help create new economic opportunities in former 'nuclear cities.'" Pena and Adamov also issued a statement affirming progress toward a U.S.-Russia agreement on the management and disposition of plutonium no longer needed for weapons. Pena is in Moscow for a meeting of energy ministers from the G-8 countries to discuss energy and environmental issues. Following is the text of the news release: (Begin text) U.S. Department of Energy March 31, 1998 UNITED STATES PARTNERS WITH RUSSIA TO CREATE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES IN "CLOSED" CITIES U.S. Secretary of Energy Federico Pena joined Yevgeniy Adamov, Russian Acting Minister of Atomic Energy, today in a pledge to support economic opportunities in cities that make up the Russian nuclear weapons production complex. Scientific and technical projects that team the U.S. Department of Energy's national laboratories with Russian nuclear institutes will be focused on creating civilian ventures in these formerly "closed" cities. "We have made significant progress in securing nuclear materials to reduce the worldwide risk of nuclear proliferation," said Secretary Pena. "We are now turning to a new area discussed during recent bilateral commission talks led by Vice President Gore: broadening U.S. support to help create new economic opportunities in former 'nuclear cities.'" The officials agreed to explore opportunities to create commercial enterprises that would supply a broad economic base in the nuclear cities while creating opportunities for partnerships with U.S. national laboratories and investment by private industry. Secretary Pena and Minister Adamov also issued a statement affirming progress toward an agreement between the United States and Russia on the management and disposition of plutonium no longer needed for weapons. This will be an important step toward technical cooperation on pilot and small-scale demonstration projects. While the agreement still requires formal government approval, the Secretary and Minister expressed their hope for early approval and a signing by the leaders of the two states. Secretary Pena is in Moscow attending the meeting of energy ministers from the G-8 countries to discuss energy and environmental issues. Set to begin Tuesday evening, the meeting will focus on mutual interests in energy security, including diversifying energy sources and promoting clean, renewable energy technologies. Also on the agenda are ways to increase competition in energy markets and create opportunities for foreign investment in Russia's energy sector. Acting Prime Minister and former Minister of Fuel and Energy Sergei Kiriyenko will address the group on Wednesday. The energy talks follow up the June 1997 Summit of the Eight in Denver, Colorado, and the results will be reported to the summit scheduled for May 1998 in Great Britain. (End text)
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