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04 March 2004

U.S., Russian Nuclear Risk Reduction Centers to Host Staff Exchange

Part of U.S. commitment to enhance transparency in relationship with Russia

The State Department has announced that its Nuclear Risk Reduction Center will host two Russian Watch Officers March 22-26, while the Russian Center will in turn host U.S. Watch Officers in April.

A media note on the exchange explains that the Nuclear Risk Reduction Centers "are responsible for vital time-sensitive communications required by arms control treaties and security agreements," and that they are staffed "around the clock, receiving, translating, and disseminating these notifications."

Following is the State Department notice:

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U.S. Department of State
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC.

Media Note
March 3, 2004

WATCH OFFICER EXCHANGE WITH RUSSIAN NUCLEAR RISK REDUCTION CENTER

The U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce an exchange of staff by the United States Nuclear Risk Reduction Center and its counterpart in the Russian Federation. The Nuclear Risk Reduction Center, part of the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Verification and Compliance, will be hosting two Russian Watch Officers from March 22-26. The Russian Center will host U.S. Watch Officers in April.

The Nuclear Risk Reduction Centers are responsible for vital time-sensitive communications required by arms control treaties and security agreements. Watch Officers staff their Centers around the clock, receiving, translating, and disseminating these notifications, which go directly to the Russian Ministry of Defense and the U.S. Department of State without passing through the respective Embassies. The Centers were established under an agreement between the United States and the Soviet Union in 1987. There are now equivalent Centers in Moscow, Russia; Kiev, Ukraine; Minsk, Belarus; and Almaty, Kazakhstan.

The exchange between the U.S. and the Russian Nuclear Risk Reduction Center is part of the U.S. commitment to enhance transparency in our relationship with Russia.

During their visit here, the Russian officers will meet their professional counterparts and become familiar with the U.S. Center's operating procedures. We view this as an excellent opportunity to improve the working relationship and operational effectiveness of the reciprocal flow of treaty data and notifications, as well as to build more openness into our relationship with Russia.

For further information, contact Peter Eisenhauer, 202-647-1895

2004/168
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(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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