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02 September 1998

TEXT: U.S., RUSSIA DEDICATE NUCLEAR DETECTION TECHNOLOGY SEPT. 2

(Richardson in Moscow to dedicate airport equipment) (610)
Moscow -- U.S. Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson and Russian State
Customs Committee Chairman Valeriy Draganov dedicated the installation
of equipment to combat the trafficking of illicit nuclear materials,
in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Moscow's Sheremetyevo-1 international
airport September 2.
With Department of Energy assistance, Russia recently installed
equipment to detect nuclear materials at the airport, which serves
flights to countries that may pose a proliferation concern.
"Preventing nuclear smuggling is crucial to preserving a world free of
nuclear terrorism," said Richardson. "This historic cooperation
demonstrates the United States and Russia's commitment to reducing the
proliferation of nuclear weapons not only at production and storage
sites but at the borders as well."
Following is the text of DOE press release:
(Begin text)
RICHARDSON, RUSSIAN FEDERATION DEDICATE "SECOND LINE OF DEFENSE"
U.S. Nuclear Detection Technology to Help Secure Russian Borders
U.S. Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson and Russian Federation State
Customs Committee Chairman Valeriy Draganov dedicated the installation
of equipment to combat the trafficking of illicit nuclear materials at
Russian borders in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Moscow's
Sheremetyevo-1 international airport today. Secretary Richardson is in
Russia accompanying President Clinton, whose summit with Russian
President Boris Yeltsin underscores the United States' stake in the
success of a peaceful, stable, democratic Russia.
With the assistance of technical experts from several Energy
Department laboratories, Russia recently installed equipment to detect
nuclear materials at the Moscow airport which serves domestic and
international flights to countries which may pose a proliferation
concern.
"Preventing nuclear smuggling is crucial to preserving a world free of
nuclear terrorism," said Secretary Richardson. "This historic
cooperation demonstrates the United States and Russia's commitment to
reducing the proliferation of nuclear weapons not only at production
and storage sites but at the borders as well."
While the Energy Department's material protection, control and
accounting (MPC&A) program helps Russia control its fissile or nuclear
materials at the source, DOE's "Second Line of Defense" program
assists Russia in preventing illicit nuclear materials and equipment
from crossing the border. (U.S.-Russian cooperation to improve
security at Russian nuclear facilities represents the "first line of
defense" in addressing this threat.)
The Department of Energy signed a protocol with Russian Federation
Customs in June calling for cooperation to reduce smuggling of nuclear
and "dual-use" equipment, materials and technology from Russia. DOE
has agreed to provide initial funding to purchase and install
Russian-manufactured equipment to demonstrate the applicability of
nuclear detection technology at key Russian ports, airports and border
crossings.
The overall collaborative program between DOE and the Russian customs
agency includes participation from several Energy Department
laboratories and facilities. To install nuclear detection equipment at
the Moscow airport, technical experts from the Department of Energy's
Los Alamos National Laboratory assisted the Russian Federation State
Customs Commission in identifying a system of portal monitors and
video surveillance equipment that can detect nuclear smuggling
activity. A Russian company called Aspect built the portal monitors;
Los Alamos previously worked with Aspect to test and certify its
equipment for portal monitoring and other applications.
In coming months, DOE and its multi-laboratory team will cooperate
with Russian agencies to provide equipment and training for Second
Line of Defense objectives. In the near term, equipment will be
installed at a seaport on the Caspian Sea as well as Sheremetyevo
airports in Moscow. A training program for Russian customs officials
leveraging existing U.S. and Russian training experience and resources
will be developed in FY 1998 and implemented in FY 1999.
(End text)