[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 8 (Monday, February 28, 2005)]
[Pages 322-323]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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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