10 May 2002
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http://usinfo.state.gov/cgi-bin/washfile/display.pl?p=/products/washfile/latest&f=02050905.wlt&t=/products/washfile/newsitem.shtml
US Department of State
International Information Programs
Washington File
_________________________________
09 May 2002
(Secy. Abraham at news conference with Russian atomic energy minister) (1070) The United States and Russia have agreed to work together to improve the security of radiological materials that could be used to make so-called "dirty bombs," U.S. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham said at a press conference with Russian Minister of Atomic Energy Alexander Rumyantsev May 9 in Washington. "This effort will be a new logical extension of the work we are already doing together on protecting nuclear materials in the Russian Federation," Abraham said, explaining that such material exists in many forms including medical isotopes, radiography sources, and some sources of electric power, which make them "potentially attractive targets for theft" by terrorists. The United States also is set to resume buying plutonium 238 from Russia, Abraham said, and expects to begin placing orders immediately for the material that it uses as a power source in its space program. The Abraham-Rumyantsev discussions in Washington, which lasted almost three days, were part of a series of cabinet-level consultations in preparation for the upcoming Moscow-St. Petersburg summit between Presidents Bush and Putin. At the start of the press conference, Abraham expressed America's sorrow and outrage at the deadly bomb attack that occurred during a Victory Day parade in southern Russia earlier in the day. Following is the text of his opening statement: (begin text) U.S. Department of Energy Washington, D.C. May 9, 2002 SECRETARY OF ENERGY SPENCER ABRAHAM'S OPENING REMARKS AT PRESS CONFERENCE WITH RUSSIAN FEDERATION MINISTER OF ATOMIC ENERGY ALEXANDER RUMYANTSEV Before I begin, I want to express the sorrow and outrage of the government and people of United States at the cowardly bombing that occurred at a Victory Day parade in southern Russia earlier this morning. Our deepest sympathies go out to the families of the thirty-two victims and to all the Russian people. This new reminder of the threat from terrorists makes our mutual efforts this week all the more important. Minister Rumyantsev and I have had almost three days of discussions. We met both in large groups and privately, and the Minister and his staff also met with General Gordon, and with Under Secretary Card. In addition, he and I will be meeting with Dr. Rice, the President's National Security Advisor, and have had a number of meetings with Senators and Congressmen. These talks served two purposes. First, and most important they are one of a series of cabinet-level consultations being held in preparation for President Bush's May 23 summit in Moscow and Saint Petersburg with President Putin. Although it is too early to announce any specifics, we had very productive discussions as to how our two organizations can advance the new strategic relationship. But this meeting had another important purpose. It was a follow up on my visit to Moscow in December and another step in our deepening cooperation. In Moscow, we agreed to accelerate our work on protecting nuclear materials. As a result of our agreement, we have intensified our efforts in Russia. We now expect to complete the work of protecting some 600 tons of fissile material by 2008, a full two years earlier than we expected at this time last year. This progress has been made possible by the strong support of the Congress and by Minister Rumyantsev's personal efforts to help accelerate our work. We also agreed in Moscow to conduct periodic reviews of our cooperation. This meeting was part of that process. During this meeting we reviewed the whole range of our ongoing cooperative programs. We also discussed ways to advance our mutual non-proliferation goals. Perhaps the most important step we took this week was an agreement to work together to improve the security of radiological sources that might be used to develop so called "dirty bombs". This effort will be a new logical extension of the work we are already doing together on protecting nuclear materials in the Russian Federation. Since 1993 the United States and Russia have been working to secure nuclear materials in Russia through our Materials Protection, Control and Accounting program, or MPC&A. This continues to be a highly successful program. Nonetheless, September 11 has made clear to both Russia and the United States that more needed to be done. In particular, both countries have become concerned with radioactive materials that, while not capable of causing a nuclear explosion, would be very suitable for use in a so-called "dirty bomb," or radiological dispersal device. Such materials exist in many forms -- medical isotopes, radiography sources, and sources that provide electric power in remote areas for things like beacons. The nature of these sources makes them potentially attractive targets for theft. It is not that we believe such "dirty bombs" would be hugely devastating in terms of loss of life. But they can he highly disruptive. Thus we need to look at what we can do to preclude such sources from becoming useful to terrorists. Russia has also identified this material as a potentially grave threat and we both believe that we can more effectively counter this threat by working together to address it. Accordingly we have agreed to create a joint U.S.-Russian task force to immediately start looking at this threat, and recommend appropriate responses. We are prepared to provide some initial funding for this effort from within the MPC&A program. This is clearly the next logical step for our materials protection cooperation and the United States looks forward to collaborating closely with Russia on addressing this threat. In addition to making preparations for the summit, reviewing our ongoing programs, and establishing a new area of cooperation, we also agreed that the United States will resume purchase of plutonium 238 from Russia. This material is used as power sources in the U.S. space program. We expect to be placing orders immediately. Finally, on a personal note, I want to say how fortunate I am to have Minister of Atomic Energy Rumyantsev as a partner in this effort. We've met three times now. I know personally the depth of the Minister's commitment to reducing nuclear dangers and making the world safer for all future generations. Presidents Bush and Putin have set forth a vision for a new strategic framework between the United States and Russia. I'm very pleased that the Minister and I are forging such a strong partnership in implementing that new framework. (end text) (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)