23 August 2002
Enriched Uranium Moved from Serbia to Russian Facility
(U.S. congratulates Serb, Yugoslav governments for cooperation) (590)
The successful transfer of highly enriched weapons-quality uranium
from the Vinca nuclear reactor near Belgrade to a facility in Russia
August 22 was an unprecedented multinational cooperative effort,
according to State Department Deputy Spokesman Philip Reeker.
The United States congratulated the Serb and Yugoslav governments "for
their clear understanding of the risks associated with continued
storage of this material at the now-closed Vinca nuclear research
reactor facility and their assistance in packing, transportation and
security," he said.
The uranium, which was enough for two nuclear weapons, has safely
arrived at the Ulyanovsk Nuclear Processing Plant in the Russian
Federation, where it will be down blended for use as a conventional
nuclear fuel.
Following is the text of his statement, which provides details on the
funding of the project:
(begin text)
U.S. Department of State
Office of the Spokesman
August 23, 2002
Statement by Philip T. Reeker, Deputy Spokesman
PROJECT VINCA: HIGHLY ENRICHED URANIUM REMOVED FROM BELGRADE REACTOR
IN A MULTINATIONAL PUBLIC-PRIVATE PROJECT
In an unprecedented and highly successful cooperative project,
officials from the United States, the Republic of Serbia, the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia and the Russian Federation successfully
transferred yesterday a quantity of highly enriched weapons-quality
uranium from the Vinca nuclear reactor near Belgrade -- enough for two
nuclear weapons -- to a facility in the Russian Federation where it
will be down blended for use as a conventional nuclear fuel. A
substantial financial contribution from the Nuclear Threat Initiative
enabled the parties to reach agreement on an action plan on one of the
U.S. government's highest priority nuclear proliferation threats.
The transfer of 48 kg of highly enriched uranium in about 5,000 rods
took place under full International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards
and with the outstanding cooperation of Serb and Yugoslav officials.
The United States congratulates these governments for their clear
understanding of the risks associated with continued storage of this
material at the now-closed Vinca nuclear research reactor facility and
their assistance in packing, transportation and security. The uranium,
provided to Yugoslavia by the former Soviet Union, has safely arrived
at the Ulyanovsk Nuclear Processing Plant in the Russian Federation.
The United States has provided nearly $3 million in funding for this
project. About $2 million came from the State Department's
Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund for packing, transportation and
security. The Department of Energy provided funds and technical
expertise associated with blending down the materials. Key to the
project's success was a donation of $5 million from the Nuclear Threat
Initiative (NTI), a nongovernmental organization foundation co-chaired
by Ted Turner and Senator Sam Nunn. NTI funds address radiological
hazards and were essential to the successful transfer. Projects of
this kind require specialized training and experience. The U.S.
anticipates that Yugoslav scientists and technicians that are taking
part in this project have gained useful experience that will enable
them to participate in similar projects in the future.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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