10 May 2002
Source: http://usinfo.state.gov/cgi-bin/washfile/display.pl?p=/products/washfile/latest&f=02050905.wlt&t=/products/washfile/newsitem.shtml


US Department of State
International Information Programs

Washington File
_________________________________

09 May 2002

U.S., Russia Agree to Protect "Dirty Bomb" Materials

(Secy. Abraham at news conference with Russian atomic energy minister)
(1070)

The United States and Russia have agreed to work together to improve
the security of radiological materials that could be used to make
so-called "dirty bombs," U.S. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham said at
a press conference with Russian Minister of Atomic Energy Alexander
Rumyantsev May 9 in Washington.

"This effort will be a new logical extension of the work we are
already doing together on protecting nuclear materials in the Russian
Federation," Abraham said, explaining that such material exists in
many forms including medical isotopes, radiography sources, and some
sources of electric power, which make them "potentially attractive
targets for theft" by terrorists.

The United States also is set to resume buying plutonium 238 from
Russia, Abraham said, and expects to begin placing orders immediately
for the material that it uses as a power source in its space program.

The Abraham-Rumyantsev discussions in Washington, which lasted almost
three days, were part of a series of cabinet-level consultations in
preparation for the upcoming Moscow-St. Petersburg summit between
Presidents Bush and Putin. At the start of the press conference,
Abraham expressed America's sorrow and outrage at the deadly bomb
attack that occurred during a Victory Day parade in southern Russia
earlier in the day.

Following is the text of his opening statement:

(begin text)

U.S. Department of Energy
Washington, D.C.
May 9, 2002

SECRETARY OF ENERGY SPENCER ABRAHAM'S OPENING REMARKS AT PRESS
CONFERENCE WITH RUSSIAN FEDERATION MINISTER OF ATOMIC ENERGY ALEXANDER
RUMYANTSEV

Before I begin, I want to express the sorrow and outrage of the
government and people of United States at the cowardly bombing that
occurred at a Victory Day parade in southern Russia earlier this
morning. Our deepest sympathies go out to the families of the
thirty-two victims and to all the Russian people. This new reminder of
the threat from terrorists makes our mutual efforts this week all the
more important.

Minister Rumyantsev and I have had almost three days of discussions.
We met both in large groups and privately, and the Minister and his
staff also met with General Gordon, and with Under Secretary Card.

In addition, he and I will be meeting with Dr. Rice, the President's
National Security Advisor, and have had a number of meetings with
Senators and Congressmen.

These talks served two purposes. First, and most important they are
one of a series of cabinet-level consultations being held in
preparation for President Bush's May 23 summit in Moscow and Saint
Petersburg with President Putin.

Although it is too early to announce any specifics, we had very
productive discussions as to how our two organizations can advance the
new strategic relationship.

But this meeting had another important purpose. It was a follow up on
my visit to Moscow in December and another step in our deepening
cooperation.

In Moscow, we agreed to accelerate our work on protecting nuclear
materials. As a result of our agreement, we have intensified our
efforts in Russia. We now expect to complete the work of protecting
some 600 tons of fissile material by 2008, a full two years earlier
than we expected at this time last year.

This progress has been made possible by the strong support of the
Congress and by Minister Rumyantsev's personal efforts to help
accelerate our work.

We also agreed in Moscow to conduct periodic reviews of our
cooperation. This meeting was part of that process. During this
meeting we reviewed the whole range of our ongoing cooperative
programs. We also discussed ways to advance our mutual
non-proliferation goals.

Perhaps the most important step we took this week was an agreement to
work together to improve the security of radiological sources that
might be used to develop so called "dirty bombs". This effort will be
a new logical extension of the work we are already doing together on
protecting nuclear materials in the Russian Federation.

Since 1993 the United States and Russia have been working to secure
nuclear materials in Russia through our Materials Protection, Control
and Accounting program, or MPC&A. This continues to be a highly
successful program.

Nonetheless, September 11 has made clear to both Russia and the United
States that more needed to be done.

In particular, both countries have become concerned with radioactive
materials that, while not capable of causing a nuclear explosion,
would be very suitable for use in a so-called "dirty bomb," or
radiological dispersal device.

Such materials exist in many forms -- medical isotopes, radiography
sources, and sources that provide electric power in remote areas for
things like beacons. The nature of these sources makes them
potentially attractive targets for theft.

It is not that we believe such "dirty bombs" would be hugely
devastating in terms of loss of life. But they can he highly
disruptive. Thus we need to look at what we can do to preclude such
sources from becoming useful to terrorists.

Russia has also identified this material as a potentially grave threat
and we both believe that we can more effectively counter this threat
by working together to address it.

Accordingly we have agreed to create a joint U.S.-Russian task force
to immediately start looking at this threat, and recommend appropriate
responses. We are prepared to provide some initial funding for this
effort from within the MPC&A program.

This is clearly the next logical step for our materials protection
cooperation and the United States looks forward to collaborating
closely with Russia on addressing this threat.

In addition to making preparations for the summit, reviewing our
ongoing programs, and establishing a new area of cooperation, we also
agreed that the United States will resume purchase of plutonium 238
from Russia. This material is used as power sources in the U.S. space
program. We expect to be placing orders immediately.

Finally, on a personal note, I want to say how fortunate I am to have
Minister of Atomic Energy Rumyantsev as a partner in this effort.

We've met three times now. I know personally the depth of the
Minister's commitment to reducing nuclear dangers and making the world
safer for all future generations.

Presidents Bush and Putin have set forth a vision for a new strategic
framework between the United States and Russia. I'm very pleased that
the Minister and I are forging such a strong partnership in
implementing that new framework.

(end text)

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