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U.S. Department of State

Diplomacy in Action

Nuclear Energy and Nuclear Security

Date: 2007 Description: Containers are outfitted with proper physical protection, control and accounting enhancements aimed at improving the security of nuclear weapons and materials at their source. Taken in 2007. © U.S. Department of Energy photo
Date: 03/19/2010 Description: An employee from the National Nuclear Security Administration uses a neutron detector to test the outside of a container of highly-enriched uranium for possible radiological contamination at the Charleston Weapons Station near Goose Creek, S.C. on March 19, 2010. © AP Image
Date: 08/01/2007 Description: As part of the global effort to secure vulnerable nuclear materials, U.S. and Russia cooperate to remove 80kgs of highly enriched uranium (HEU) from the Czech Republic in 2007. The spent HEU was transported to Russia by rail, in secret and under secure conditions, with the cooperation of several countries. © U.S. Department of Energy photo

The Nuclear Energy and Nuclear Security Working Group was established under the U.S.-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission during the July 2009 Presidential Summit. As stated in their Joint Statement on Nuclear Cooperation, President Obama and President Medvedev recognized the special responsibility of the United States and Russia for security of nuclear weapons and material and agreed to broaden and deepen U.S.-Russian long-term cooperation to further increase the level of security of nuclear facilities around the world. They also stated their common vision of the growth of clean, safe, secure, and affordable nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

Working Group Chairs:

U.S. Chairperson: Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman
Russia Chairperson: Rosatom Director General Sergei Kiriyenko

Sub-Working Groups:

  • Nuclear Material Protection, Control, and Accounting (MPC&A) Cooperation
  • Fuel Returns
  • Reactor Conversion
  • Reactor Conversion
  • Nuclear Material Consolidation and Conversion 
  • Plutonium Disposition • Combat Illicit Trafficking
  • International Safeguards System • Export Controls
  • Elimination of Weapons-Grade Plutonium
  • Emergency Response 
  • Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism 

Working Group Web Links:

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
DOE/Office of Nuclear Energy 
DOE/National Nuclear Security Administration

Releases:

Presidents' joint statement
Press release of first Working Group meeting 
Photos from the first meeting


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