*EPF406 10/05/00
Text: U.S., Russia Continue to Protect Nuclear Material in Russian Navy
(Security upgrades completed on second of three submarine service ships) (430)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that a commissioning ceremony was held near Murmansk September 29 for the second of three Russian Federation submarine service ships to complete security upgrades.

A DOE press release said the ship project is part of joint U.S.-Russian efforts to protect against the loss or theft of nuclear materials that can be used in weapons of mass destruction.

Following is the text of the release:

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U.S. Department of Energy
Washington, D.C.
October 2, 2000

Press Release

U.S. ENERGY DEPARTMENT AND RUSSIAN NAVY COMPLETE SECURITY UPGRADES OF SUBMARINE SERVICE SHIP

Commissioning Ceremony Near Murmansk Marks Continuing Cooperation

The Department of Energy has announced the completion of security system enhancements on Russian Navy Ship PM-12, the second of three Russian Federation Navy submarine service ships scheduled for security upgrades through the department's Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation. The Russian Navy is a major user of highly enriched uranium fuel which, if lost or stolen, could be processed for use in nuclear weapons. Representatives of the two governments held a commissioning ceremony for the new security system last Friday.

"The physical protection of nuclear materials aboard these Russian Navy ships enhances our national security and global security," said Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson. "The extraordinary cooperation between the Department of Energy and the Russian Navy benefits the United States, the Russian Federation and the international community."

During an August trip to the Russian Far East, Secretary Richardson signed an agreement with the Russian Federation Navy that outlines expanded future cooperation in the area of nuclear material security. On the visit, Secretary Richardson was granted unprecedented access to Russian submarine support facilities.

The Russian Navy Ship project is a part of the cooperative efforts between the U.S. Department of Energy and the Russian Federation to prevent proliferation of nuclear materials that can be used in weapons of mass destruction. Russian Navy Ship PM-12 is based at Nerpa Shipyard, which is north of Murmansk, on the Kola Peninsula, along the northern Russian coastline. In addition to ship-based systems, upgrades were installed at specific shore locations where the ship may be docked. Work on upgrades began on Russian Navy Ship PM-12 in August 1998 and was completed on schedule.

More information is available online at: http://www.nn.doe.gov/mpca

Media Contact: Tamara Hamilton, 202/586-5806

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(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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