12 March 2002

U.S., Uzbekistan Sign Nonproliferation Implementation Agreement

In a ceremony in Washington presided over by Secretary of State Colin Powell and visiting Uzbek President Islam Karimov, the United States and Uzbekistan agreed March 12 to facilitate cooperation on nuclear nonproliferation.

The implementation agreement enables the United States to begin work to repatriate to Russia highly enriched uranium fuel from a research reactor in Uzbekistan, with the Uzbekistan government pledging to convert the reactor to use low-enriched uranium, a more proliferation-resistant form of reactor fuel, according to a Department of Energy press release.

"This project is an excellent opportunity for the United States and Uzbekistan to work together to reduce the threat of terrorism and prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction," said Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham, who signed the agreement along with Uzbek Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulaziz Kamilov.

Following is the text of the release:

U.S. Department of Energy
Washington, D.C.
March 12, 2002

Agreement Protects Nuclear Materials and Technologies

Washington, D.C. -- Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham signed an Implementing Agreement today with the Uzbek Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdulaziz Kamilov, to facilitate cooperation on nuclear nonproliferation between the United States and Uzbekistan. Secretary of State Colin Powell presided over the ceremony with Uzbek President Islam Karimov.

"This project is an excellent opportunity for the United States and Uzbekistan to work together to reduce the threat of terrorism and prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction," Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham said. "It reinforces President Bush's commitment to work with our partners in the region and take practical steps to improve the physical protection and accounting of nuclear materials and prevent illicit nuclear trafficking. This, in combination with our other nonproliferation initiatives, will improve the security environment in a way that has both regional and international benefits."

The Implementing Agreement provides the groundwork for the execution of a June 2001 agreement to perform joint work on nuclear nonproliferation. As a result of the agreements, the United States will begin work to repatriate to Russia highly enriched uranium fuel from a research reactor in Uzbekistan. The Uzbekistan government in turn has pledged to convert the reactor to use low-enriched uranium, the more proliferation-resistant form of reactor fuel. The Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration will assist this conversion and aid Uzbekistan in the safe and secure storage of its nuclear materials.

This project furthers U.S. nonproliferation goals by increasing the security of nuclear materials in Central Asia and advancing the long-term U.S. goal of reducing the commercial use of highly enriched uranium fuel.

Media Contact: Jeanne Lopatto, DOE, 202/586-4940; Lisa Cutler, NNSA, 202/586-7371