26 August 2002
Abraham Hails Cooperation in Removing Uranium from Belgrade
(Energy Department press release) (810)
The successful transfer of highly enriched weapons-quality uranium
from the Vinca nuclear reactor near Belgrade to a facility in Russia
on August 22 represents "important forward progress for both U.S. and
international nuclear nonproliferation efforts," said Energy Secretary
Spencer Abraham, adding that this cooperation "greatly reduces the
risk that such material can be used as a terrorist weapon."
The material was moved to Dmitrovgrad, Russia, and according to the
Department of Energy, it will be converted to low-enriched uranium for
use as commercial reactor fuel under DOE's Material Conversion and
Consolidation Project.
Praising Russian Minister of Atomic Energy Alexander Rumyantsev for
"his personal commitment and his Ministry's critical cooperation,"
Abraham said this U.S.-Russian collaboration "is dramatic evidence of
the momentous progress we have made in our relationship."
Following is the text of a DOE press release on the project:
(begin text)
Department of Energy
Washington, D.C.
August 23, 2002
SECRETARY ABRAHAM COMMENDS INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN SUCCESSFUL
MISSION TO REMOVE BELGRADE URANIUM
"Important Forward Progress for Both U.S. and International Nuclear
Nonproliferation Efforts"
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham today praised the
successful collaborative mission to remove a significant quantity of
highly enriched uranium from the Vinca Institute near Belgrade as
"important forward progress for both U.S. and international nuclear
nonproliferation efforts."
Working in conjunction with officials from the Department of State and
International Atomic Energy (IAEA), experts from Department of
Energy's Office of International Material Protection and Cooperation
played a pivotal role in the removal Thursday of approximately 50 kg.
of highly enriched uranium from the Vinca Institute. The DOE team from
Oak Ridge National Laboratory monitored all technical aspects of the
operation at Vinca, including development of the operational plan,
verification of the material's type and weight, its packaging and safe
transport.
"This type of international cooperation greatly reduces the risk that
such material can be used as a terrorist weapon," Secretary Abraham
said. "It is a model of how governments, the international community,
and the private sector can work together to reduce the threat posed by
these materials to the citizens of the world. International
nonproliferation efforts are most successful when they are based on
cooperative efforts like this one. I commend Russian Minister of
Atomic Energy Alexander Rumyantsev for his personal commitment and his
Ministry's critical cooperation in this operation."
Abraham noted that upon arrival in Dmitrovgrad, Russia, the material
will be converted to low-enriched uranium under the Department's
Material Conversion and Consolidation Project, thereby eliminating
this material as a proliferation threat. In Dmitrovgrad, DOE technical
experts will confirm the arrival of the material and the integrity of
the shipment. In addition to providing key technical expertise and
personnel, the Energy Department will spend approximately $400,000 on
this operation.
"This U.S./Russian collaborative effort is dramatic evidence of the
momentous progress we have made in our relationship," Abraham said.
The Vinca Project involved complex international and public-private
cooperation. The governments of the United States and Russia reached
an agreement with the government of Serbia, endorsed by the Yugoslav
government, to work with the International Atomic Energy Agency to
return the material to Russia. The private, Nuclear Threat Initiative
played an important supporting role for this effort by providing
funding to help address the safety and environmental issues presented
by the spent nuclear fuel remaining at the Vinca Institute.
On August 7th, Abraham returned from his second mission to Moscow to
discuss nuclear non-proliferation efforts between the United States
and Moscow. In Moscow, he had a series of meetings with his Russian
counterpart, Minister Rumyantsev, to further the expansion and
acceleration of programs to account for and secure nuclear materials.
Abraham and Rumyantsev will meet again to continue their talks at the
upcoming International Atomic Energy Agency conference in Vienna on
September 15-17.
Media Contact: Jeanne Lopatto, 202/586-4940
Release No. N-02-169
Release Date: August 23, 2002
(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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