The U.S. Department of Energy and the Ministry of Atomic Energy of theRussian Federation are guided by bilateral agreements to actively work inthe field of collaboration on conversion of nuclear technologies and thenuclear complex generally, and also by the desire to effectively employthe scientific and technical potential of elements of our countries'nuclear complexes and the need to support the most promising developmentsof U.S. and Russian specialists in the energy field.

The U.S. Department of Energy and the Ministry of Atomic Energy of theRussian Federation, taking into account the U.S. experience in redirectingcertain elements of the atomic complex to produce peaceful products, willcooperate to establish alternative, peaceful production also in theRussian "atomic cities", to render assistance to scientific institutionsin the development of new economic activities, and to create theappropriate infrastructure, on commercial principles, which will open newjob opportunities for scientists and specialists. Funding of suchactivities could be done on the basis of U.S. and Russian governmentprograms as well as multinational organizations, including theInternational Science and Technology Center (ISTC), international financialinstitutions, and also private firms.

In order to commence the work without delay, the U.S. Department of Energyand the Ministry of Atomic Energy of the Russian Federation areestablishing a Joint Working Group for devising a plan and implementingthe Initiative. The group will hold its first meeting no later than June1998.

[Signed]

Secretary of Energy of the United States of America (F. Pena)

Minister of Atomic Energy of the Russian Federation (Y. Adamov)