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RANSAC Nuclear News, October 23, 2003 Compiled By: Matthew Bouldin A. Announcements
 A. Announcements 1. STATEMENTS CONCERNING NONPROLIFERATION AND THREAT REDUCTION IN RUSSIA AND THE FORMER SOVIET UNION BY DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENT IN 2004 The Russian American Nuclear Security Advisory Council has produced a new information resource, entitled Statements Concerning Nonproliferation and Threat Reduction in Russia and the Former Soviet Union by Democratic Candidates for President in 2004. This PDF document collects quotes on WMD threat reduction as far back as 2001 from six of the nine nominees currently seeking to be selected as the challenger to the Bush administration in November 2004. The statements are gathered from the candidates' campaign homepages, the Congressional Record, media appearances, op-eds, and speeches. The report can be downloaded from the following link: http://www.216.119.87.134/documents/demquotes.pdf Return to Menu B. Plutonium Production Reactor Shutdown 1. SITE FOR DHP TO REPLACE ADE-2 IS TO BE SELECTED WITHIN ONE MONTH Krasnoyarsk Region Deputy Governor Sergei Sokol summed up the meeting on Sosnovoborskaya district heating plant (DHP) which was held October 21 in the Regional Administration Headquarters, IA Regnum reports. The meeting accommodated negotiations with the US companies, which are engaged by the US Department of Energy (DOE) through contracts dealing with financing of construction of Sosnovoborskaya DHP to replace ADE-2 production reactor in Zheleznogorsk. The negotiations were attended by officials from Rosatomstroi management, the Region Legislative Assembly and the RF State Duma, city administrations of Zheleznogorsk and Sosnovoborsk as well as Mining and Chemical Combine (MCC) management. According to Sokol, the US DOE submitted a work schedule to be implemented after all contracts are in place. The work on preparing and justifying the investments must be done by late January. After the justification of investment document is studied, the feasibility study has to be prepared by mid-2004 to be reviewed by late 2004. The process is to result in the timely completed replacement power capacity. Sokol says the key task now is to set up a commission, which would include Rosatomstroi and US contractor experts, to select the construction site. Two options are possible: either to finalize construction of Sosnovoborskaya DHP or start the �from the scratch� construction on a new site. During the visit the US experts preliminary studied sites and concluded that each option has advantages and disadvantages. The experts are to make the final choice with four weeks. As Sokol said, on the whole the regional authorities, US partners and Rosatomstroi had reached the agreement on all issues and determined the timeframe. The cost issue is still open. According to the Deputy Governor it may be US$ 200-400 million. He also noted that the US side is taking on the financial commitments as being the most interested in termination of ADE-2 operation. Return to Menu C. Multilateral Threat Reduction 1. MNEPR Committee met in Moscow October 21 Moscow hosted the first meeting of the Multilateral Nuclear Environmental Program (MNEPR) Committee attended by more than 40 officials from the participating countries � Russia, Belgium, the Great Britain, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, the USA, Finland, France, Germany, Sweden, the European Commission, OECD/Euratom and observers from Canada and EBRD. The meeting appointed the official representatives to the Committee from the participating countries and two co-chairpersons: Deputy Minister of the Russian Federation of Atomic Energy Sergei Antipov � from Russia and Deputy Director of the International Law Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sweden Anders Nystrom � from the western participants. As Deputy Minister Antipov said to Nuclear.Ru, the meeting had discussed the progress of the MNEPR Agreement implementation, particularly, its ratification process in the participating countries. Some countries � Norway and Sweden � have already ratified it, while others do not require this process � the Great Britain, Denmark and the European Commission. Russia has submitted the Agreement package to the State Duma. Belgium and France intend to ratify the Agreement but the process has not started yet. Finland holds interagency consultations on the matter. The meeting attendees also discussed the status of additional legal and regulatory basis necessary for effective functioning of the MNEPR Agreement. Antipov said there were bilateral agreements with several countries already in place (Germany) while negotiations and consultations were carried out with the others. The participating countries� officials familiarized the Committee with the activities underway in the frames of MNEPR. In particular, Norway signed contracts for disposition of two nuclear submarines. Four contracts were signed and being executed under AMEC program (Arctic Military Environmental Cooperation) participated by the USA, Norway, the Great Britain and Russia. Besides, contracts with the Great Britain and Germany are at the preparatory stage. The meeting also discussed the tax-exempt issue. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of taxation and the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation have prepared and presented a draft diplomatic note, which describes in detail the tax exempt mechanisms for the MNEPR participants. According to Antipov, all Committee members agreed with the Russia-proposed approach after clarifications on certain points had been made. The Deputy Minister also said that the civil liability protocol had been signed by all MNEPR participating countries but the USA. This issue was not discussed by the meeting since being a solely bilateral matter its is discussed by legal experts of the two countries. �The USA is not happy with the MNEPR language on civil liability, therefore we are seeking for a compromise between the US and Russia positions�, the deputy Minister said. He reminded that in 1992 Russia and the USA signed the cooperative threat reduction agreement (CTR) dealing with the elimination of missiles, heavy bombers and strategic nuclear submarines. According to this agreement Russia in any case and without exclusion takes on the responsibility and covers all damages including that of third countries. �The US insists that Russia will continue being responsible under such formula but we cannot afford it today�, Antipov said noting that in 1992 such decision was made basing on the political situation of Russia at that time. �Now we are seeking for a language with disclaimers like: we are ready to compensate the damage but only that done indeliberately�, Antipov said. He also said that the next meeting of the MNEPR Agreement Committee will be held in May-June 2004 in Berlin. Return to Menu 2. CLEAN-UP FOR RUSSIAN ARCTIC A new international project to clean up the Russian Arctic is being announced in London on Wednesday. The $38 million project, will among other things, make abandoned military bases safe, investigate the use of algae to clean up oil spills and involve indigenous peoples in environmental protection. The Arctic is threatened by a number of pollutants, including poisonous heavy metals, radioactive leaks and industrial chemicals. And the Russian shores are more affected than any other part of the region. Vulnerable The new project is co-ordinated by a number of organisations, including the United Nations Environment Programme, and funded by international bodies and Western governments. The initial budget will be spent on a number of projects aimed at showing potential private sector investors how they could benefit from cleaning up pollution and investing in sustainable technologies. One of these projects will use locally-developed algae to clean up oil spills; another will explore ways in which the many indigenous peoples of the Russian Arctic can use their land for both economic and environmental benefit. The Arctic is especially vulnerable to environmental destruction as the natural processes which break down pollutants work much more slowly, if at all, in cold climates. It is estimated that cleaning up the region will cost altogether around $40 billion and a number of meetings are planned in north America and Europe aimed at securing further investment. Return to Menu 3. FRENCH SGN TO SECURE NUCLEAR STORAGE SHIP IN MURMANSK The Murmansk Shipping Company and the French SGN company will start a nuclear decommissioning project to rid the Lepse technical support ship of its radioactive load. The bilateral agreement was signed by Russia and France on October 6th, 2003. The project-, entitled �Complex Decommissioning of the Technical Support Ship Lepse,� envisions a process of unloading spent nuclear fuel from the storage ship Lepse, in the far northern Russian city of Murmansk. Phase 1A of the project includes development of technical guidelines for spent nuclear fuel extraction, a feasibility study and a basic report. These will be carried out jointly by the French company SGN and Russian scientific research and design organisations. The financial corporation NEFCO and the FFEM Foundation will finance the project in accordance with prior agreements. The costs of Phase 1A are estimated at �650,000, while its implementation will take six months. On the Russian part, the agreement to launch the project was signed by the Ministry of Atomic Energy, the State Duma, the Murmansk Shipping Company, and the nuclear icebreakers service base Atomflot. The French side was represented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the French Embassy in Russia, and the SGN company. Return to Menu 4. NORWAY TO HELP RUSSIA WITH SUBMARINE DECOMMISSIONING Norway Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Traavik paid an official visit to Russia's Pomorye and visited one of the leading shipyards of the region, the Zvezdochka enterprise in the city of Severodvinsk. PRAVDA.Ru learnt in the press-service of the regional administration that the parties touched upon such aspects of cooperation as shipbuilding oil and gas production on the Barents Sea shelf and nuclear security guarantees at utilization of nuclear submarines at Zvezdochka. Norway together with the US, France and Great Britain participated in construction of a modern complex for utilization of nuclear submarines and radioactive waste processing at Zvezdochka. The above mentioned complex consists of sectors for thermal and mechanical cutting of bodies and equipment of submarines that are to be decommissioned; a sector for cable processing; a coastal base for unloading of spent nuclear fuel from submarines that are to be decommissioned; a complex of infrastructures meant for unloading, acceptance, transportation, storage and processing of solid and liquid nuclear wastes.> Together with a dock camera and a floating dock, this unique complex allows to decommission missile mounts and to perform complex decommissioning of nuclear submarines of all classes according to the Russian and international ecological safety regulations. According to Nikolay Kalistratov, the director of the enterprise, Zvezdochka has already decommissioned 20 strategic nuclear missile carriers. The shipyard is ready to start decommissioning submarines. The only problem that still hampers the process is the lack of financing. Nikolay Kalistratov says that the Zvezdochka shipyard expects to receive assistance from foreign partners to solve this problem as Russia must not be the only country to deal with the environment problem. Kim Traavik assured that Norway was ready to act as a coordinator for the countries currently working in Russia. Meanwhile, Zvezdochka has more problems to be settled. For instance, the Admiral Ushakov cruiser has been berthed in the shipyard for four years already. All attempts to return it to service have failed. Today, Russia has no money for both decommissioning or development of a decommissioning project. According to provisional estimates, the decommissioning may cost $40 million and no less than $2 million to develop a decommissioning project. Return to Menu D. Nuclear Terrorism 1. ARMENIAN NUCLEAR PLANT THREATENS US SECURITY The United States has included the closure of the Armenian nuclear reactor in its plans for securing weapons of mass destruction for next year. According to a recent US State Department report, Armenia last year agreed with the US� request to shut down its only reactor, which presents a grave environmental risk. According to the State Department, it has also become a risk for the national security of the US, which feels threatened by potential thefts of Armenian reactor materials and technology by international terrorists, Centran.ru, the Central-Asian news Internet site, reported. However, although the plant is slated for shutdown next year, the report does not specify how much money will be spent on the closure. Last year, US government agencies allocated $10.2m for security programmes in Armenia, said the website. Recently, the Armenian nuclear power plant was taken over by the Russian energy supply giant, RAO Unified Energy System of Russia, as part of Armenian debt redemption to Russia. Return to Menu E. U.S.-Russia 1. RUSSIA, US TO EXTEND PROGRAM OF INTERACTION IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WASHINGTON, October 22 (RIA Novosti correspondent Arkady Orlov) - The Russian and US governments will extend their bilateral program of interaction in the sphere of emergency management. RIA Novosti was told in the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) press service that the relevant agreement will be signed on Wednesday, October 22, in Washington. The agreement will be the continuation of a memorandum on mutual understanding, concluded between the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), subordinate to the DHS, and the Russian Emergencies Ministry in July 1996. In the framework of the memorandum, a joint program to fight the consequences of natural disasters and man-caused emergencies was launched for the first time. American rescuers participated in the Emergencies Ministry exercises in Pskov, while Russian experts worked on probation in the US and took part in drills to ensure secure work of nuclear power plants in Nebraska and Iowa. Russia and the US also plan to exchange experience of 911 rescue service work and population evacuation technologies, development of a specialized aircraft to extinguish forest fires, protection of citizens from radiological leakages, use of electronic databases and the Internet in emergency situations. Return to Menu F. Russia-Iran 1. THE OPEN DOOR TO CO-OPERATION WITH IRAN Tehran has agreed to sign an additional protocol to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and, as a sign of good will, pledged to halt its uranium enrichment project. Statements to this effect were made at the end of the talks between the Iranian leaders and the foreign ministers of France, Britain and Germany, which were held in Tehran on Tuesday. Europe and Russia heaved a sigh of relief: the signing of the additional protocol opened new opportunities for co-operation with Iran. It is especially important for Moscow that Ali Akbar Salehi, Iran's representative in the IAEA, said that Tehran was also ready to sign a protocol to the agreement on the Bushehr nuclear station, stipulating the return of spent nuclear fuel to Russia. Negotiations on the protocol have been going on for several months; without it Russia will not deliver nuclear fuel to the Bushehr station, Vladimir Putin said at a press conference in Bangkok. On the whole, differences between Moscow and Tehran are limited mostly to the technical and commercial sides of the problem and will not influence Moscow's resolve to carry on nuclear power engineering and other forms of co-operation with Iran. Judging by what Mr Salehi has said, this problem is as good as settled. Russia and Iran are "linked not only by centuries of history," believes Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov. "Iran is our neighbour and partner whom we value highly, with whom we have similar stands on many regional and international issues, and with whom we closely collaborate on the bilateral level and in multilateral institutions, in particular on the fight against terrorism, drug trafficking, and, last but not least, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction." Anyway, the news from Tehran concerning the compromise with the IAEA was entirely welcome. Under the September 12 resolution of the IAEA Board of Governors, Iran had to sign an additional protocol, giving IAEA inspectors free access to its facilities, before October 31. The matter would have been turned over to the UN Security Council, if Tehran had rejected the document. According to information from diplomatic sources leaked to the press, the British, German and French foreign ministers offered Iran technical assistance, including in the implementation of its peaceful nuclear programme, in return for full transparency and co-operation with the IAEA. They confirmed the right of any country to have peaceful nuclear programmes. This statement is of vital significance for Iran, as Washington had repeatedly hinted that Iran did not need nuclear energy because it has vast amounts of natural sources of energy, i.e. oil and gas. Following this logic, Iran could use nuclear power for military purposes alone. So far, only Russia has been helping Iran to develop its nuclear power engineering. For several years now, Russia has been trying to prove that its assistance is justified and legitimate. Vladimir Rushailo, Secretary of the Russian Security Council, once said in an interview that Russia proceeded from the belief that "Iran as a signatory of the NPT and a member of the IAEA has a right to international assistance for the development of its nuclear power engineering." President Vladimir Putin confirmed this stand at the G8 summit in Evian, conditioning Russia's assistance on Iran's agreement to place its nuclear facilities under IAEA control. Moscow hoped that Tehran would sign the additional protocol, while it has repeatedly called on Iran to make its nuclear programme transparent. This would rule out any misinterpretation and speculation concerning Russia's assistance to any alleged Iranian "nuclear weapons programme." This would also put an end to unfair US sanctions against several Russian companies that co-operate with Iran. President Putin said at the Bangkok press conference, "if Iran complies with all conditions of the international community, opens up all its programmes and signs the additional protocol on IAEA safeguards, there will be no reason to limit co-operation with it, including in such a delicate sphere, as the nuclear one." We can only hope that the visit of senior European diplomats to the Iranian capital will ease tensions around Iran and that nothing will hinder the development of economic co-operation with it. Return to Menu 2. IRAN SAYS TO SIGN PROTOCOL ON RETURN OF NUCLEAR FUEL TO RUSSIA Tehran, Oct 22, Itar-Tass/ACSNA/IRNA -- Tehran and Moscow will soon sign a protocol to an agreement on Iran`s returning spent fuel from the Bushehr nuclear power plant, Iran`s representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Akbar Salehi, said. He led the Iranian delegation to talks with IAEA that have ended in Tehran. Salehi said in a statement on Wednesday that under the protocol, Russia would deliver nuclear fuel for the Bushehr plant soon. He said the construction of the nuclear power plant `is not only continuing, but has a tendency to speed up`. Asked whether visits of foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany to Tehran were coordinated, Salehi said that in his view they were. He also stated that views of the three ministers `are similar to ours`. As for when Iran could suspend operations to enrich uranium, Salehi said Tehran was to decide that on its own. French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin said after his talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi that Iran`s authorities had agreed to sign an additional protocol to the treaty on non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and suspension of uranium-enrichment work. Return to Menu 3. MOSCOW EXPECTS IAEA INFORMATION ON IRAN MOSCOW, October 22 (RIA Novosti) - Moscow expects to receive official information on the Iran problem from the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), said Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov. The Russian minister said this when asked about Russia's reaction to the latest comments of the Iranian leadership on the transparency of Iran's nuclear programme and the expansion of co-operation with the IAEA. "We deem it especially important that Iran provide full information on its previous and present-day nuclear programmes, join the additional protocol to the agreement on IAEA guarantees, and suspend the work on uranium enrichment," said Ivanov. "All these measures would mollify the concern of the international community over Iran's nuclear programme," the minister opined. Ivanov confirmed Russia's readiness to maintain co-operation with Iran, including in the nuclear field, given strict compliance with international commitments. Return to Menu 4. MOSCOW READY TO COOPERATE WITH IRAN IN NUCLEAR SPHERE - FM Moscow, Oct 22, Itar-Tass/ACSNA/IRNA -- Moscow `is ready to cooperate with Tehran in future, including in the nuclear sphere provided international obligations are strictly observed`, said Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov on Wednesday in reply to a request to comment on the latest statements by Iran. He pointed to the need for ensuring transparency of the Iranian program. According to the minister, Russia `has been consistently advocating full transparency of the Iranian nuclear program`. He noted that this idea `was again stated by Russian President Vladimir Putin at a meeting with Iranian President Mohammad Khatami`. "We attach special importance to a requirement that Iran should supply full information on its previous and present programs, join the Additional Protocol to the Agreement on guarantees with the IAEA and suspend work on enriching uranium," the minister said. "All the above would help to remove the concern of the international community about Iran`s nuclear program," he emphasized. "Russia is ready to cooperate with Tehran in future too, including the nuclear sphere provided international obligations are strictly observed," the minister emphasized. Secretary of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council Hasan Rowhani said on Tuesday that Tehran would sign the protocol with the IAEA before November 20. As a result, agency expert will be able to conduct inspections of Iranian nuclear projects without preliminary notifications. Iran will suspend work on enriching uranium. However, it will set a date for suspension on its own. According to reports from Tehran, the Iranian side also expressed readiness to sign a document soon with Russia on a return of worked-out nuclear fuel. According to Iranian representatives, it `is at the stage of agreeing`. Return to Menu 5. MOSCOW SATISFIED WITH RESULTS OF IRAN NEGOTIATIONS MOSCOW. Oct 22 (Interfax) - Moscow is satisfied with the outcome of negotiations between the British, German, and French foreign ministers in Tehran. "The outcome of the talks fully complies with the policy that Russia has abided by since the very start to encourage Iran to expand cooperation with the IAEA by all means," a high-ranking Kremlin source has told Interfax. "Iran's decision to sign an additional protocol with the IAEA shows first of all Tehran's responsible approach," the source said. "This also confirms the rightness of those who have been for active involvement of Iran in international cooperation on the whole," he said. Return to Menu 6. Nuclear breakthrough gives Russia freer hand in its cooperation with Iran Russia on Wednesday hailed Iran's pledge to throw open its nuclear programme to UN inspections as a "positive step" which should ease pressure on Moscow over its cooperation with the Islamic Republic. "We welcome this decision, this is a positive step," Nikolai Shingaryev, the top spokesman for the Russian Atomic Energy Ministry, told AFP. "Russia has come under certain pressure because of Bushehr ... this agreement will certainly simplify and make our cooperation easier," he added, referring to the nuclear power plant which Russia is building for Iran. On Tuesday, Iran promised the visiting foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany that it would show "full transparency" to the UN's nuclear watchdog and allow a tougher inspections regime as well as halt uranium enrichment. The deal was struck just 10 days before the end of October deadline for Iran to come clean about its nuclear programme. Russia is building Iran's first nuclear plant, Bushehr, in a deal worth about 800 million dollars that has caused tensions with Washington because of US concerns that Tehran may be using Russian technology to develop nuclear weapons. Speaking in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek, Atomic Energy Minister Alexander Rumyantsev told AFP that Iran's agreement to sign an additional protocol with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on tougher inspections proved the Bushehr contract was beyond reproach. "If Iran in the near future signs this document, this will remove many of the concerns of various countries about the transparency of Iran's nuclear programme "This will give Iran (...) nuclear-powered electricity and Russia will make money from this contract," he added. A high-ranking Kremlin source told Interfax the successful European diplomacy fully justified Russia's insistence on engaging Iran, branded as part of an "axis of evil" by US President George W. Bush. A top Iranian official said Tuesday that Tehran would sign a deal with Moscow soon promising to return supplies of Russian nuclear fuel used in the plant in southern Iran, opening the way to the completion of the project. However, the atomic energy ministry spokesman said he could not confirm this. "I have no information that they're about to sign. I know that experts are conducting negotiations" but even under the best case scenario "fuel deliveries to Bushehr will not begin for a month or two," he said. Moscow officials earlier claimed that negotiations over the Bushehr plant had broken down over Iran's demand for Russia to buy back the spent fuel -- a highly unusual request since spent fuel in such deals is almost always sent back for free. Earlier this month Russia said it would push back by one year the launch of Bushehr to 2005, while denying suggestions the delay was forced by pressure from the United States or Israel. The Vremya Novostei daily said the Iranian concessions to the international community were a relief for Moscow. "The diplomatic success in Tehran will allow Russia to catch its breath and continue with the construction of the power station in Bushehr," said the newspaper. But it also noted that Germany, France and Britain had reportedly promised to supply nuclear technology and fuel to Iran in return, "hardly reassuring for Russia which at this time of tension has enjoyed a quasi-monopoly in the Iranian nuclear market." Return to Menu 7. SITUATION AROUND IRANIAN NUCLEAR PROGRAM STARTS GOING IN RIGHT DIRECTION "In my view the situation around the Iranian nuclear program starts going faster and in the right direction", State Secretary and Deputy Minister of Atomic Energy Valeri Govorukhin commented on Nuclear.Ru request the Teheran's statement on the country's readiness to sign the NPT additional protocol by November 20. The Deputy Minister reminded that previously Iran also did not reject the possibility of signing the additional protocol. However, such substantial progress became possible because of continuous presence and negotiations of international diplomats and IAEA officials in Iran, Govorukhin believes. The Deputy Minister also said that Asadollah Saburi, the deputy head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, which oversees Bushehr nuclear plant construction, would come to Moscow on October 29 to negotiate with Minatom of Russia. "During the negotiations we expect to reach the final agreement of the detailed construction completion schedule, which will encompass the realistic dates we are approaching", Govorukhin said noting that in cooperation between the two countries "there are no any problems except for technical ones, which led to the falling behind the schedule". It is also expected that during the Moscow's negotiations the dates of signing the Bushehr irradiated nuclear fuel return supplement to the bilateral agreement will be discussed. Return to Menu 8. RUSSIA INTERESTED IN COOPERATION WITH IRAN UNDER IAEA CONTROL Bangkok, Oct 21, Itar-Tass/ACSNA/IRNA -- Russia is interested in cooperation with Iran in the peaceful atom area and does not give it up, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov told reporters on Monday. "We are interested in cooperation with Iran on peaceful atomic programs, of course under the IAEA control," the minister said. Iran has the right to develop peaceful atom programs, he stressed. The minister reminded that Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Kuala Lumpur the other day with Iranian President Khatami and discussed the issue. Russia`s stand is well known. Russia maintains the closest contact with International Atomic Energy Agency leaders and will promote implementation of the IAEA resolution on Iran, the diplomat said. The document calls for Iran providing information about its nuclear programs, signing an additional protocol on guarantees and freezing the uranium enriching process, Ivanov reminded. Implementation of the resolution would allow easing the tension, he believed. The French, German and British foreign minister on Tuesday leave for Tehran to discuss the Iran nuclear problem, Ivanov said. The minister expressed the hope that joint efforts would prevent the situation from being aggravated, but brought to the way of a political dialogue and search for such decisions that will relieve the world community`s anxieties. Return to Menu G. Russia-North Korea 1. APEC LEADERS COME FOR CONTINUED NEGOTIATIONS OF SIX COUNTRIES ON NORTH KOREA BANGKOK, October 21, 2003 (RIA Novosti) -- APEC leaders came out for the continuation of negotiations by six countries on North Korea. We support the peaceful settlement of the situation on the Korean Peninsula and the continuation of the negotiations of the six countries on the Korean problem, said APEC chairman, prime minister of Thailand Taksin Chinnawat. The APEC leaders discussed the situation around North Korea during the lunch, he pointed out. We believe that the Korean problem can be solved peacefully by way of a dialogue and taking into account the concerns of all countries, including the need for guarantees of North Korea's security, Chinnawat said. We hope that a tangible and consistent progress will be reached and a peaceful and non-nuclear status of the Korean Peninsula established, the APEC chairman stressed. Earlier, the Japanese delegation proposed that a separate written statement on the North Korean problem be adopted, but a number of delegations, above all Russia and China, considered it untimely. As a result, the decision was reached that the chairman of the forum will make an oral statement on the issue. Return to Menu 2. LOSYUKOV:RUSSIA DOES NOT WELCOME NKOREA FUEL ROD PROCESSING BANGKOK, October 21 (Itar-Tass) - Russia does not welcome North Korea's processing of fuel rods for obtaining weapons-grade plutonium, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov said in an interview Itar-Tass on Tuesday. He commented the official statement by a spokesman for the South Korean administration that North Korea had processed 2,500 of 8,000 rods at its disposal. Losyukov said North Korea stated itself that it was processing the fuel rods. "I cannot say how much they have processed. We do not have such information, but this is quite possible," the diplomat said. "From the North Korean point of view, this is their consistent position which they have articulated. I could say that we do not welcome that," Losyukov said. Return to Menu 3. PUTIN: KOREAN MISSILE LAUNCHES ARE NOT DIRECTLY CONNECTED WITH PYONGYANG NUCLEAR POLICY BANGKOK, October 21, 2003. /RIA Novosti/ -- Korean launch of the space vehicle is not directly connected with Pyongyang nuclear program, Russian President Vladimir Putin disclosed in Bangkok following the APEC summit. "The Korean missile launches violate nothing and are held within the framework of the asserted programs and thus they are not directly connected with the Pyongyang nuclear program," the Russian President disclosed to journalists. "Therefore, Russia's position concerning this issue is neutral," the Russian President stated. However, Vladimir Putin once again confirmed that Russia does not want Korea to become a nuclear power. Over the past 24 hours Korea conducted two launches of short-range missiles. The second launch was conducted today from the east coast of the Korean peninsula towards the Sea of Japan. Return to Menu 4. PUTIN: RUSSIA SPEAKS OUT FOR KOREA'S INTERNATIONAL GUARANTEES BANGKOK, October 21, 2003. /RIA Novosti/ -- Russia speaks out for Korea's international guarantees, which could be adopted by Pyongyang and eventually lead to the nuclear disarmament of the Korean peninsula, Russian President Vladimir Putin disclosed to journalists in Bangkok. However, the Russian President believes that it is still early to speak about the practical side of the issue concerning the international guarantees. "If the world wants the Korean guarantees to be effective, they must be thoroughly considered and adopted by the Korean side," Vladimir Putin noted. "Every part giving guaranties must clearly and exactly state what kind of guarantees they are ready to offer," the Russian president stressed. Return to Menu 5. RUSSIAN, SOUTH KOREAN LEADERS DISCUSS NORTH KOREAN NUCLEAR PROBLEM BANGKOK, October 21, 2003. /RIA Novosti special correspondent/. The Russian and South Korean leaders had a detailed discussion of the North Korean nuclear programme in Bangkok, deputy head of the Kremlin administration Sergei Prikhodko told journalists on Tuesday. According to him, Vladimir Putin pointed out the necessity of further talks and search for solutions to ease tension on this issue. Russia "is ready for further intermediary efforts if they are needed," the Russian President noted. Vladimir Putin came out for the development of trade and economic and political cooperation between the two countries and invited South Korean President No Mu-hyon to visit Russia next year. Return to Menu 6. SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT HIGHLY VALUES RUSSIA'S ROLE IN NUCLEAR SETTLEMENT IN KOREAN PENINSULA BANGKOK, October 21, 2003. /RIA Novosti/. Moscow and Seoul "have common approaches to several international problems," Russian President Vladimir Putin told his South Korean counterpart No Mu-hyon. On his part, the South Korean President said that he highly values Russia's constructive role in the nuclear settlement in the Korean Peninsula. "We hope for further talks on this problem," he said. Return to Menu H. Russian Nuclear Industry 1. Russia and South Korea expand areas of nuclear cooperation New prospective areas of Russia-South Korea cooperation were identified, said to Nuclear.Ru State Secretary-Deputy Minister of Atomic Energy Valeri Govorukhin commenting on results of the October 20-22 meeting of 8-th RF-SK coordinating committee for cooperation in peaceful uses of atomic energy. He noted that this interaction is built of two major blocks. The first includes scientific and technical cooperation where the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute cooperates with Kurchatov Institute, IPPE of Obninsk, NIIAR and other institutions dealing with nuclear and radiation safety, nuclear reactor material studies, decommissioning technologies, instrumentation and controls, laser-based isotope separation technologies, and radio-pharmaceuticals. The second block involves commercial cooperation, in particular, supply of uranium products to South Korea. The Russian uranium of reactor-grade enrichment makes up to 30% of the country�s needs. Govorukhin says, the cooperation progresses well. During the coordinating committee meeting the Korean side came up with and the Russian side supported new areas of cooperation. Thus, the resulted protocol signed October 22 fixed the following areas: cooperation in space power installations, floating nuclear power plants, joint development of nuclear power plant control and monitoring systems, postgraduate exchanges. The Deputy Minister noted that South Korea supports the Russia-launched INPRO initiative and participates in the project and also is ready to join the international ITER project. According to Govorukhin, radioisotopes are one of the interesting and prospective cooperation areas. Presently, Korea-produced radioisotopes cater only 5% of the country�s needs. This share is planned to increase up to 20% within coming years. �We cooperate in manufacturing generators for radioisotope production and foresee good prospects for such cooperation�, Govorukhin stressed. He also said that during the Moscow visit the Korean delegation led by Dr. Chung-Won Cho, Director General of the Atomic Energy Bureau of the Ministry of Science and Technology, visited Kurchatov Institute, MIFI, Rosenergoatom Concern and VNIIAES Institute. Return to Menu 2. Uzbekistan to boost uranium output to Soviet-era level by 2010 Buoyed by sustained growth in demand on the world markets and aided by cost-effective yet environmentally- friendly technology and equipment, Uzbekistan is aiming to boost uranium mine-output 40% to 3,000 tonnes annually - the sort of level not seen since the mid 1980s - by 2010. The Navoi Mining and Metals Combine, Uzbekistan's uranium monopoly, has made vast strides forward since 1995, when it had to shut some of its mines because they were uneconomical, Nikolai Kuchersky, the combine's general director, said at an international geology conference in Tashkent. Since then, Navoi has been mining uranium by the in situ leach (ISL) method. Apart from being cheaper to use and less damaging to the environment, ISL has enabled Navoi to bring on stream uranium deposits in the Central Kyzyl Kum that could not be developed by conventional methods. Three ISL operations are being implemented - at the Kendyktyube, Lyavlakan and Tokhumbet deposits - and ISL is being tested at the big Surgaly deposit, Kuchersky said. All of this is bolstering Navoi's geological reserves and positioning it nicely to raise mine output substantially and keep up with increasing market demand. Navoi has become self-sufficient in PVC and polyethelene casing pipes after building a factory of its own. And the combine uses highly- productive submersible pumps supplied by Denmark's Grundfos to mine more than 90% of its uranium. Kuchersky said Navoi is reporting up to 1,000 tonnes in new geological uranium finds each year. This year alone, geologists are planning to drill 100,000 linear meters of prospecting and exploration holes. Navoi's entire geology budget is $8 million for 2003. The combine, which is also Uzbekistan's biggest gold producer, will spend $6 million of this on gold exploration and $2 million on uranium. The combine has uranium milled at its No. 1 hydrometallurgical plant in the city of Navoi. In Soviet times Navoi used to produce 3,000-3,500 tonnes of low- enrched uranium per year. Production decline bottomed out in 1996, when the plant produced 1,700 tonnes, in connection with poor world market trends, however in 1999, output recovered somewhat to 2,100 tonnes. Navoi produced 2,100 tonnes of uranium in 2002, as much as in 2001. Uzbekistan is the world's seventh biggest uranium producer. The state geology committee has said the bulk of the country's uranium lies in 27 deposits in the Kyzyl Kum which contain a probable 55,000 tonnes of uranium between them. Return to Menu 3. Russia proposes to upgrade controversial Bulgarian reactors Russia is proposing to upgrade two reactors at Bulgaria's only nuclear power plant, which the European Union wants the Balkan country to permanently close, if it is serious about joining it, state radio said Wednesday. A letter by the Russian ministry of nuclear energy said the upgrades of units three and four of the Kozlodui plant would cost a total of US$300 million. Bulgaria is planning to spend more than US$1 billion to build a second nuclear plant and substitute the Soviet-designed 440-megawatt pressurized water units, which the government has committed to close in the end of 2006. The Russian manufacturer of the reactors says they have 30-year lifespans that are expected to expire in 2010 and 2012 respectively. The Russian letter said an upgrade could allow Bulgaria use the two units even longer. The EU however argues that the reactors are obsolete and dangerous and cannot be upgraded because they lack safety encasement. Last year Bulgaria bowed to EU pressure and closed two older Kozlodui units of the same type. This year the government agreed to shut down units three and four in 2006, but asked the EU to send experts to reconsider their safety in hopes that this deadline may be extended. The Kozlodui plant, 200 kilometers (125 miles) north of Sofia, has two newer 1,000-megawatt units with safety encasement, which are not a security issue. Return to Menu 4. SEVEN POWER FACILITIES OF ARMENIA TO BE RUSSIA MOSCOW, October 22 (Itar-Tass) - Armenia turns over seven major power facilities to Russia for management. The related matters are to be discussed on Wednesday by Anatoly Chubais Chairman of the Board of the "Unified Energy Systems (UES) of Russia" joint-stock company during his one-day trip to Yerevan. Chubais is expected to meet with Armenian President Robert Kocharyan. The sides are to sign a protocol on cooperation and a number of another documents. The UES chief is also scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan, Defence Minister Serge Sarkisyan, and Minister of Energy Armen Movsesyan to discuss, in particular, prospects for the implementation of joint Russo-Armenian energy projects. Chubais pointed out earlier in a talk to journalists that the holding company that he heads conducted negotiations to get property rights to the Razdan central heating and power plant, the cost of which is estimated at 31 million USD, and a property complex of five hydropower stations of Sevan-Razdan series with an aggregate cost of 25 million USD. Besides, the company will get the right to day-to-day operation of the Armenian nuclear power station (ANPS) in repayment of debt for the nuclear fuel used. In the process, Armenia will retain the ownership of the ANPS, the only one in the Transcaucasus, a UES press service official has told Itar-Tass. UES officials, in an Itar-Tass interview, confirmed that the holding company would soon begin to make large investments in the energy system of Armenia. This is necessary, in particular, for effecting the delivery of electric power from there to Georgia as well as for establishing a common energy space in the Commonwealth of Independent States. Return to Menu 5. URANIUM PRICES GROW DUE TO MARKET RESPONSE TO FORECASTED FEED DEFICIT The today�s natural uranium price growth is due to the forecasted feed deficit rather than physical shortage of uranium. As Nuclear.Ru was informed by the National Atomic Company of Kazakhstan (NAC) Kazatomprom, this had been said by the Company�s president Mukhtar Dzhakishev in the interview to Interfax-Kazakhstan news agency while commenting on re-start of the specialized electronic uranium stock exchange. The first Uranium On-Line�s transaction was the Kazatomprom�s sale of 20 MT of uranium to one of the US utilities. Dzhakishev believes the electronic stock exchange could become an important factor of the uranium market transparency. �Today the market mechanisms in the uranium industry do not work and that affects pricing�, Kazatomprom�s president said explaining that the published prices, which guide the market are the spot sales prices, which are not representative since they cover only 10% of the market sales. The remaining 90% are covered by long-term contracts hiding the prices and not influencing the price index dynamics. Therefore, the existing system of trade does not allow for revealing the real demand and trends in the industry�s development, Dzhakishev thinks. He also noted that if the situation is viewed in context of natural uranium production, there is �a state of transition from the overfed market to uranium deficit�. The world annually mines about 36,000 tons while the demand is 60,000 tons. The difference is covered by exhausting stocks. Dzhakishev believes that the most realistic value could be the weighted average price based on sales of the main bulk of uranium, for the spot sales-based price is an unstable index: it drops when the material is in excess and grows unlimitedly when there is a deficit. The latter is occurring today when the spot sales price exceeds the long-term contract prices. Dzhakishev also stressed that the Kazatomprom�s sales of 20 tons of uranium had been made to test new stock exchange sales mechanisms. Speaking on the company�s further uranium sales plans using the stock exchange Dzhakishev said, �If in 2004 we still have some quantity of uranium for spot sales while mining 3,100 tons, beginning from 2005 we won�t have free uranium even considering a significant growth in mining up to 3,700 tons, because all amount of mined uranium has been contracted already for long-term starting form the said date.� Other world largest uranium producers are facing the same situation. Dzhakishev also noted that should the uranium demand sharply grow, the main burden would rest with three companies - Cogema, Cameco and Kazatomprom. They would have to raise productions greatly but considering inertia of the mining industry it would take a rather long time to meet all nuclear plants� needs. Return to Menu 6. BALAKOVO TRAINS INDIAN KOODANKULAM MANAGERS In mid-October Rosenergoatom Concern signed the contract for training and probation of several employees of Koodankulam nuclear power plant (India). The Concern�s press-center reports the would-be plant manager, chief engineer and chief project manager were supposed to do the training which program includes familiarization with the VVER-440 reactor plant layout; major buildings, equipment and systems; main control room and turbine hall training; diesel generator and pumping station, etc. In addition the Indian specialists will learn how the plant structural units interact during operation, scheduled outages, shift transfers and master other procedural and regulatory issues associated with a modern hi-tech nuclear plant operations. Having done a half of the training at Balakovo nuclear plant, the Indian specialists will continue the training at Kalinin NPP where they will get familiarized with start-up and alignment of the power unit, interaction with regulators, testing of systems and equipment before the first power. The probation program is scheduled for 42 working days. Koodankulam nuclear plant�s start-up is scheduled for 2007. The site is to house two third generation VVER-1000 nuclear power units to be made to the Russian design. Return to Menu 7. RUSSIA READY TO PARTAKE IN UPDATING LITHUANIA'S IGNALINA NUCLEAR POWER PLANT MOSCOW, OCTOBER 21. /RIA NOVOSTI / -- Russia is ready to participate in updating the Ignalina nuclear power plant in Lithuania, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasianov said to reporters on results of the Russian-Lithuanian talks on Tuesday. Russia is awaiting the Lithuanian authorities' decision on a future for the Ignalina facility, he said. Overall, the Russian premier gave a positive assessment of Russian-Lithuanian cooperation in the energy sphere. Russian companies, he said, have found a niche on the Lithuanian market, particularly in the oil, gas and electricity sectors. "Don't worry about it: the level of interaction is high", Kasyanov said. In his view, the Lithuanian authorities pave the way for work of the Russian companies. During the talks, the sides have agreed to study the energy balance for greater efficiency, said Kasyanov. "Each dollar of investments should yield profit", the Russian premier believes. Return to Menu I. Official Statements 1. US Energy Department to help Serbia secure nuclear waste Belgrade, Oct 22, 2003 - The US Department of Energy (DOE) and the Serbian nuclear sciences institute Vinca signed on Wednesday an agreement under which the US DOE committed to finance the implementation of a project to provide the highest level of security for Vinca's used nuclear fuel and radioactive waste. The agreement also includes equipment procurement, while all the works should be finished within six months, in several successive stages. The project will raise the security of radioactive waste in Vinca to the highest possible level and create optimal conditions for its disposal, said the Serbian Ministry of Science, Technology, and Development and the Vinca institute. A delegation from the US DOE and an expert team from Sandia National Laboratory USA visited Vinca between October 20 and 22, to assess the final study within the project for providing the highest level of security of used nuclear fuel and radioactive waste. The American partners also agreed to fully participate in the implementation of the final project, which includes upgrades to Vinca's facilities and the procurement of alarm equipment. Return to Menu 2. RUSSIAN MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IGOR IVANOV ANSWERS A MEDIA QUESTION REGARDING IRANIAN NUCLEAR PROGRAM 2387-22-10-2003 QUESTION: Igor Sergeyevich, what is Russia's reaction to the latest statements of the Iranian leadership concerning the transparency of the nuclear program of that country, and prospects for cooperation with the IAEA? ANSWER: Russia is expecting soon to receive official information on that score from the IAEA. At the same time, as is known, Russia has consistently spoken out and continues to speak out for complete transparency of the nuclear program of Iran. President Vladimir Putin again made this known a few days ago in a conversation with Iranian President Seyed Khatami at Kuala Lumpur. We attach particular importance to the following, namely that Iran should: -provide full information on its previous and current nuclear programs; -join the Additional Protocol to the IAEA Safeguards Agreement; -suspend uranium enrichment. All this would help to relieve the concerns of the international community over Iran's nuclear program. Russia is ready to continue to cooperate with Iran, including in the nuclear field, with strict observance of international obligations. Return to Menu 3. FROM THE VERBAL STATEMENT OF THE APEC SUMMIT CHAIRMAN ON THE SITUATION ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA, OCTOBER 21, 2003 2377-21-10-2003 We discussed the situation on the Korean Peninsula. We seek a peaceful resolution through dialogue while addressing all the concerns of the parties including the security concerns raised by the DPRK. We welcome efforts to address these security concerns. We are committed to the maintenance of peace and stability on the Peninsula and support continuation of the Six-party talks, and look forward to concrete and verifiable progress towards a complete and permanent nuclear-weapons-free Korean Peninsula. Return to Menu 4. PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE RESULTS OF THE APEC SUMMIT (excerpted) [�] QUESTION: How do you assess the exchange of opinions on the North Korean problem, and in your view, what security guarantees is North Korea prepared to give countries from the group of six, whether they are Russia, the U.S.A. or China? VLADIMIR PUTIN: You know, it is too early to talk about this yet, because if we want these guarantees to be effective, they must firstly be well worked-out, and secondly they must be accepted by North Korea. When I say �well worked-out�, this means that all the countries that are prepared to provide guarantees must precisely and clearly formulate their position on this issue � exactly what guarantees they are prepared to provide. So far there are no such clear formulations. Drafting work is underway. I will probably have a talk with the President of South Korea today, including on this issue, although I already discussed this problem with him briefly yesterday. I should say that everyone involved in discussing this problem, and with whom I have talked so far, have a constructive attitude. And this is the most important thing. QUESTION: And what would suit us? VLADIMIR PUTIN: International guarantees which would be accepted by the North Korean side and which would mean the Korean peninsula was free of nuclear weapons. QUESTION: And how about the Iranian problem? VLADIMIR PUTIN: This is currently one of the most serious problems in the world. And, of course, we discuss this whenever it is convenient. I have talked with the President of France, with the Chancellor of Germany, with the Prime Minister of Great Britain, and of course I talked with President Bush yesterday and today on this issue. It is difficult to say what we can expect, because it is no easy matter to look ahead and make predictions, especially with such a difficult problem as the Iranian problem. But we still share a common vision of this problem with the Europeans. I am afraid to be so bold as to say that this is the common position. I said �the common vision�. It is not a general coordinated position, but I have the feeling that our approaches are approximately the same. They are that if Iran fulfils all the conditions of the international agreement opens its programmes, signs an additional document, then there are no foundations to restrict cooperation with it, including in such a sensitive sphere as the nuclear area. And indeed, if Iran does not aspire to possess nuclear weapons, then I for example see no reason to close any programmes for Iran. This is what we tell our Iranian partners, openly and directly. We have long-standing, excellent partner ties with Iran, and we work in various areas, such as building the atomic energy station in Bushehr. We currently insist that another problem be solved, the return of processed atomic fuel which we can deliver to this country in the framework of common programmes. If these issues, these problematic issues, are closed and solved � and there are no obstacles to this � then we see no reasons not to work or cooperate with Iran. In my opinion, our European colleagues take approximately the same approach. [�] Return to Menu 5. TRANSCRIPT OF RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IGOR IVANOV REMARKS AT PRESS CONFERENCE AT CONCLUSION OF FIRST DAY OF APEC SUMMIT OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT IN BANGKOK, OCTOBER 20, 2003 2376-21-10-2003 In the course of today's APEC session of Heads of State and Government the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, had a series of meetings with leaders participating in this session. In particular, working meetings were held with the US, Indonesian and South Korean Presidents and with the leader of New Zealand. Apart from the topics of the session, which primarily concerned further democratization of trade and investment activities in the Asia-Pacific region, the interlocutors also touched upon pressing international issues, in particular the situation on the Korean Peninsula. They talked about continuing talks in a six-way format. It is important that in the course of the contacts here, in Bangkok, discussions are proceeding more substantively not only about the nuclear component of North Korea, but also about the lawful security concerns of the DPRK. In other words, it is being discussed in what form those security guarantees could be given to the DPRK as part of a package of agreements concerning the nuclear problem on the Korean Peninsula. It is too early to speak of any concrete results. The Russian position is that a package solution ought to be sought which, on one hand, would of course ensure the nuclear-free status of the Korean Peninsula, the return of the DPRK to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and its resumed cooperation with the IAEA, and on the other, the satisfaction or solution of the issues of the legitimate concern of North Korea over its own security. Movement in this direction is evident now. We consider it important for a vigorous dialogue to be further maintained, ensuring that the second round of the six-way format takes place in Beijing desirably before the end of this year or, perhaps, at the beginning of next. It is important not to put them off so as to move from a statement of general positions, as was the case in the course of the first round, to a search of points of contact for the development of the appropriate package solutions. A second topic of the discussions held in the course of Putin's contacts was the Iranian nuclear problem. As you know, there is the appropriate resolution of the IAEA on Iran's nuclear program. Active consultations are currently under way on that point. President Putin met in Kuala Lumpur with Seyed Khatami. Our position on this score is well known and we maintain the closest contact with the leadership of the IAEA. On October 14 in Vienna I met with the IAEA Director General, Mohamed ElBaradei. We also maintain contacts with our European partners so as to assist the fulfillment of the IAEA resolution, which calls for Iran's full disclosure of its nuclear programs, previous and current; secondly that Iran sign an additional IAEA safeguards protocol pursuant to NPT and, thirdly, that Iran freeze uranium enrichment. We hold that these three fundamentally important elements would help to reduce tension around the nuclear program of Iran and to start a dialogue which would help to relieve the concerns now being expressed on that point. As you know, the Foreign Ministers of France, Germany and the UK are flying off to Teheran to continue contacts with the Iranian leadership on this problem. We are both cooperating and working in parallel. Recently our Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Kislyak was in Teheran with regard to the same problem. We hope that by joint efforts we shall manage to prevent complications around Iran's nuclear program and to move focus to a search of solutions which, as I already said, would relieve the concerns of the international community over its individual aspects. At the same time, of course, Iran has a full right to develop nuclear power for peaceful purposes, and we are interested to continue under, naturally, peaceful programs to cooperate with Iran under strict IAEA control. The third topic, which also figured throughout the contacts, was further developments in the situation around Iraq, in particular, with due regard for the recent unanimous adoption of resolution 1511 by the UN Security Council. In the next few days, as you know, a conference will be held in Madrid to discuss the situation evolving in Iraq and the questions of rendering international community assistance in the economic reconstruction of that country. We feel that resolution 1511 constitutes a new step forward as concerns increasing the role of the United Nations in Iraqi settlement and the elaboration of a plan of restoring the sovereignty of Iraq. Nevertheless this, I repeat, is only the first step. A lot of work lies ahead to achieve the realization of the basic approaches which Russia has been upholding, notably: a speedy restoration of Iraq's sovereignty and the beginning of a full-scale political settlement in the country under UN auspices. We hope that in the course of further contacts, including in the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1511, we shall be able to move this process forward. Return to Menu 6. STATEMENT OF THE 32nd GOVERNING BOARD OF THE INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER The Governing Board of the International Science and Technology Center (ISTC) held its 32nd meeting at ISTC Headquarters in Moscow. Representatives from 11 ISTC Parties attended with the European Union, Japan, Russian Federation, United States of America, and Kyrgyz Republic represented on the Governing Board. The ISTC approved 65 new projects representing over $9.9 million and Euro 8.3 million in new funding for activities in Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakstan, Kyrgyz Republic, and the Republic of Tajikistan. These projects highlight important areas of science and technology research and development: cold sterilization of blood products; solar energy and space weather forecasting; radiation and thermal burn treatments; land recultivation; groundwater flow modeling. The Board announced that 47 Partner projects totaling $18 million have been approved since the previous meeting, and noted the expanding participation of Partners in ISTC activities. ISTC Partners are private sector, intergovernmental, governmental, and non-governmental organizations that provide funds to engage CIS scientists in peaceful research projects. Total ISTC project funding in all categories now surpasses US$570 million for 1,910 projects. Canada accession to the ISTC and its participation on the Governing Board was welcomed, and the Governing Board agreed to confirm Canada's full membership in ISTC through written procedure. The Board expressed its appreciation to Dr. Michael Kroening for his past service as Executive Director, and noted his leadership of the ISTC reorganization. The Governing Board thanked the European Union for its nomination of the Interim Executive Director, Dr. Didier Gambier, who will continue in this position until returning to important new duties at the European Commission. The European Union will nominate an Executive Director for Governing Board approval by written procedure. The Governing Board approved the Fiscal Year 2004 operating budget and supplemental programs supporting ISTC?s emphasis on programmatic science and Partnership. The Board noted continuing ISTC progress on International Science Laboratories and Fuel Cell Program initiatives, which are two of the earliest programmatic directions supported by the Governing Board. The Board approved the allocation of funds for the relocation of the ISTC Headquarters to new premises in central Moscow, and instructed the Secretariat to continue its constructive approach in consultation with the Russian Federation toward solving remaining renovation and relocation issues. The Governing Board agreed to convene its next Plenary Session meeting in Moscow on 01 March 2004. Return to Menu J. Links 1. PREVENTING NUCLEAR TERRORISM: A PROGRESS UPDATE Return to Menu 2. Statement by Ambassador Eric M. Javits to the Eighth Conference of the States Parties of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons Return to Menu 3. Statement by Mr. S.I. Kislyak, Head of Russian Delegation at the Eighth Session of the Conference of the States-Parties of the Convention for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons Return to Menu 4. STATEMENT OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC TO THE EIGHTH SESSION OF THE CONFERENCE OF THE STATES PARTIES OF THE CONVENTION ON THE PROHIBITION OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS Return to Menu 5. The Norwegian Statement to the Eight [sic] Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the CWC by Ambassador Jan Flatla Return to Menu 6. Missile Proliferation and the Strategic Balance in South Asia Return to Menu DISCLAIMER: Nuclear News is presented for informational purposes only. Views presented in any given article are those of the individual author or source and not of RANSAC. RANSAC takes no responsibility for the technical accuracy of information contained in any article presented in Nuclear News. RANSAC's Nuclear News is compiled two to three times weekly. To be automatically removed from our mailing list, click on the following link: Remove Me From The List If you have questions/comments/concerns, please reply to news@216.119.87.134 |
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