    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book I)]
    [February 24, 2005]
    [Pages 320-321]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Joint Statement by President George W. Bush and President Vladimir V.
    Putin: Nuclear Security Cooperation
    February 24, 2005

        The United States and Russia will enhance cooperation to counter one
    of the gravest threats our two countries face, nuclear terrorism. We
    bear a special responsibility for the security of nuclear weapons and
    fissile material, in order to ensure that there is no possibility such
    weapons or materials would fall into terrorist hands. While the security
    of nuclear facilities in the U.S. and Russia meet current requirements,
    we stress that these requirements must be constantly enhanced to counter
    the evolving terrorist threats. Building on our earlier work, we
    announce today our intention to expand and deepen cooperation on nuclear
    security with the goal of enhancing the security of nuclear facilities
    in our two countries and, together with our friends and allies, around
    the globe.
        To this end the United States and Russia will continue and expand
    their cooperation on emergency response capability to deal with the
    consequences of a nuclear/radiological incident, including the
    development of additional technical methods to detect nuclear and
    radioactive materials that are, or may be, involved in the incident.
        We will work together to help ensure full implementation of UN
    Security Council Resolution 1540 and early adoption of an International
    Convention on Nuclear Terrorism and the amended Convention on Physical
    Protection of Nuclear Material.
        U.S. and Russian experts will share ``best practices'' for the sake
    of improving security at nuclear facilities, and will jointly initiate
    security ``best practices'' consultations with other countries that have
    advanced nuclear programs. Our experts will convene in 2005 a senior-
    level bilateral nuclear security workshop to focus increased attention
    on the ``security culture'' in our countries including fostering
    disciplined, well-trained, and responsible custodians and protective
    forces, and fully utilized and well-maintained security systems.
        The United States and Russia will continue to work jointly to
    develop low-enriched uranium fuel for use in any U.S.- and Russian-
    design research reactors in third countries now using high-enriched
    uranium fuel, and to return fresh and spent high-enriched uranium from
    U.S.- and Russian-design research reactors in third countries.
        The United States and Russia will continue our cooperation on
    security upgrades of nuclear facilities and develop a plan of work
    through and beyond 2008 on joint projects. Recognizing that the
    terrorist threat is both long-term and constantly evolving, in 2008 our
    countries will assess the joint projects and identify avenues for future
    cooperation consistent with our increased attention to the security
    culture in both countries.
        We have established a bilateral Senior Interagency Group chaired by
    Secretary of Energy Bodman and Rosatom
    Director Rumyantsev for cooperation on
    nuclear security to oversee implementation of these cooperative efforts.
    A progress report will be due on July 1, 2005, and thereafter on a
    regular basis.

     Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of
    this joint statement.

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