[NukeNet] U.S. and Russian make nuclear deal

[Kay Cumbow]

Note that the text of the agreement was not available on May 7th (but may 
be now?) and that this deal must be approved by Congress.

Nuclear cooperation for USA and Russia
07 May 2008

http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NP-Nuclear_cooperation_for_USA_and_Russia_0750081.html?jmid=5312&j=114832307&utm_source=JangoMail&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=WNN+Weekly+7+%2D+13+May+2008+%28114832307%29&utm_content=kcumbow%40greatlakes%2Enet

The USA and Russia have signed a landmark deal on nuclear cooperation to 
facilitate trade and allow joint ventures between companies.

The deal, known as a 123 agreement after the section of the US Atomic 
Energy Act that requires it, was signed in Moscow yesterday. Representing 
the USA was its ambassador to Russia, William Burns, while Sergei 
Kiriyenko, director general of the Rosatom corporation, signed for Russia. 
Kiriyenko said the deal would create the conditions for "massive 
development of nuclear power worldwide."



The text of the agreement is not yet available, but the White House said it 
will "provide a framework for potential commercial sales of civil nuclear 
commodities to Russia by US companies." The White House did not elaborate 
on potential sales in the other direction but Russian commentators said the 
American market would open to Rosatom and AtomEnergoProm, the state-owned 
company soon to become the biggest nuclear corporation in the world.



Described by officials as a 'priority' for the countries' Presidents, 
George Bush and Vladimir Putin, the civil nuclear cooperation deal is one 
part of a wider package of strategic cooperation between the two former 
Cold War opponents. Putin and Bush declared a program of agreements in 
April called the US-Russia Strategic Framework Declaration. Besides civil 
nuclear cooperation and an energy dialogue meant to enhance security and 
diversify energy supplies, it also covered missile defence, terrorism 
commitments and economic cooperation.



Another major element was bilateral atomic weapons control through the 
development of a legally-binding arrangement to follow on from the end of 
the Strategic Arms Reduction treaty (START) in December 2009. It also 
reiterates both sides' commitment to a negotiated solution to the arguments 
over Iran's uranium enrichment program. Russia has cooperated with Iran to 
build the Bushehr nuclear power plant, but has no involvement in the 
controversial enrichment work. Formalised arrangements for the USA and 
Russia to cooperate on nuclear projects in third countries could avoid 
political tensions like those surrounding Iran in future.



In terms of nuclear power, the framework mentioned joint actions to 
"promote the expansion of nuclear energy without the spread of sensitive 
fuel cycle technologies" which could be abused to manufacture nuclear 
weapons. The 123 Agreement was the most important of these in that it makes 
possible cooperation for other framework items such as the Global Nuclear 
Energy Partnership (GNEP); the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear 
Terrorism; and initiatives to create reliable access to nuclear fuel.



The USA has 22 similar agreements with other international entities, 
including one with Euratom to cover the European Union's 27 members and 
another with the International Atomic Energy Agency. It is currently trying 
to conclude a special 123 Agreement with India, but has hit major 
roadblocks in the Indian parliament.



The deal will now be sent to the Russian Duma and American Congress 
respectively for approval.
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