U.S. Embassy to Donate Equipment to Prevent Nuclear Smuggling (July 13, 2009)
The U.S. Embassy is pleased to announce the donation of scientific equipment and vehicles to the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, Nuclear Radiation Safety Service (NRSS) in support of the February 2, 2007 bilateral agreement to improve Georgia's capabilities to combat nuclear smuggling. The transfer ceremony will be held on July 13 in the Embassy courtyard. Ambassador John Tefft and Minister Giorgi Khachidze will speak, and scientific experts will be available to answer questions from the media. The equipment will be on display.
The NRSS is the agency that has been entrusted by the Georgian government to respond to emergencies and incidents involving radioactive materials.
A priority identified in the 2007 agreement was the need to create, staff, and equip a NRSS western field office to reduce response times. The new office, and this donated equipment, will enable NRSS scientists to more quickly control, identify, and safely transport illicit or orphan radioactive sources for the protection of all Georgians.
The Export Control and Related Border Security program, a U.S. Department of State initiative that is working with the Georgian government to control the international movement of weapons of mass destruction and delivery systems, is funding and coordinating this assistance. The total value of this donation is in excess of $238,000.00.