Valentin Mezhevich, first vice chairman of Federation Council Committee on Natural Monopolies

– This agreement will permit Russia and the US to help third countries to develop their own peaceful nuclear programs

On May 6 2008 Russia and the United States signed an inter-governmental agreement for cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

This agreement will create the necessary legal basis for Russia-US cooperation in the field of peaceful use of nuclear energy and will permit the expansion of such cooperation.

The agreement is supposed to foster the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and to reduce the risk of nuclear weapons proliferation.

The Russian-US agreement for cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of nuclear energy is a breakthrough in our bilateral relations. Much has been done to prepare this document by both the US Department of State and Rosatom. What will it give to Russian and US companies? First of all, it will create a legal framework for cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. This agreement will pave the way for Rosatom into the American nuclear market. In their turn, US energy companies will be able to import their equipment and nuclear materials into our country, something they were not allowed to do before due to mutual legislative restrictions on import of radioactive materials.

One of the most important points of this agreement is that it will permit Russia and the United States to help third countries to develop their own peaceful nuclear programs. This will certainly reduce tensions in this field and enhance control over nuclear materials worldwide.

The agreement is signed. Now, we can expect specific steps and joint projects. This agreement reflects the aspirations of Russia and the United States to actively cooperate in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.