UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE AND STATE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMITTEE OF UKRAINE SIGN A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

Deputy Chief of Mission Sheila Gwaltney of the United States Embassy and Chairman Vadym Gryshchenko of the State Nuclear Regulatory Committee of Ukraine (SNRCU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on October 28, 2004, to further cooperation on safety and security of radiation sources in Ukraine. Under this MOU, the United States Department of State, through the Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund, plans to provide $250,000 to the SNRCU to:

- Create and support development of a State Register for Radiation Sources, including the creation and support of the material and technical basis for the Main Registration Center and network of registration centers, and including training the staff of the Main Registration Center and the staff of the network of registration centers.

- Provide training of personnel in the safety and security of radiation sources.

- Provide other support necessary to implement activities within Ukraine to ensure the safety and security of ionizing radiation sources, and any related activities.

This is an important step today that would play a critical role in consolidating and securing radiological sources and would lead to an enhanced security of radioactive material in the region, said Ms. Gwaltney. Ms. Gwaltney also thanked Chairman Gryshchenko for his personal efforts to implement security projects that are essential in deterring terrorism in the world using such material. Chairman Gryshchenko emphasized on the strong need to secure radioactive material with appropriate accounting controls.