14.09.2007 // Minatom.ru

Today, Friday, Russian State Duma ratified an additional protocol between IAEA and Russia to the IAEA-USSR Nuclear Safeguards Agreement

The protocol was presented by the deputy head of the Federal Agency for Nuclear Energy (Rosatom) Nikolay Spassky. Viktor Opekunov from the SD Commission on Energy, Transport and Communication spoke in support of the document. 349 people voted for it.

The protocol was signed in Vienna on Mar 22 2000. It envisions a number of additional organizational and technical measures to control civilian nuclear activity among members to Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

By ratifying the protocol Russia has committed itself – just like the other nuclear powers — to actively help the IAEA to control the peaceful use of nuclear materials in states having no nuclear weapons of their own. Particularly, Russia has pledged to inform IAEA about its nuclear export (including the export of special equipment and materials) to non-nuclear states, its cooperation with non-nuclear states in the field of nuclear fuel production and the export of waste containing plutonium, highly-enriched uranium or uranium-233.

The states having nuclear weapons have the right to decide which of the measures specified in the protocol they should take in order to contribute to the nuclear non-proliferation regime.

112 states have signed the protocol so far; 78 of them have ratified it. Among them are China, France, the UK. In the US the protocol is being prepared for enactment.

During a press-conference the deputy head of Rosatom Nikolay Spassky explained that, formally, the nuclear powers are not obliged to ratify the protocol. This protocol is primarily designed for states having no status of nuclear power. It makes IAEA sure that the signatory states will not use undeclared nuclear materials in their declared activities.

Russia ratified the protocol on its own will. It sets a very limited set of requirements: the key requirement is that the Russia should inform IAEA about its nuclear activities with non-nuclear countries. The first article of the protocol says that it shall not apply if its application may cause damage to Russia’s national security.

The protocol will give Russia a number of serious advantages: it will confirm Russia’s leadership in strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime in the world, make it easier for the country to establish civilian nuclear cooperation with non-nuclear states and help Russia with its international uranium enrichment center project. According to the protocol, Russia should quarterly report to IAEA on its exports to non-nuclear states.

Spassky said that the document is very well balanced and has been coordinated with all security related departments.

The Federation Council is to consider the document on Friday.