February 2, 2007
United States and Georgia Sign Agreement to Combat Nuclear Smuggling
On February 2, 2007, U.S. and Georgian officials will sign an agreement outlining the two nations’ continued efforts to combat illicit trafficking in nuclear or radioactive materials either through or within the territory of Georgia. The agreement lists the two governments will take individually and together to improve anti-smuggling and outlines assistance to Georgia.
The signing of this document represents a crucial milestone in the cooperative efforts of the U.S. and Georgian governments to battle the threat of nuclear terrorism. Signing the agreement will add Georgia to an international program. To date, the U.S. has engaged five countries in its effort to enhance international cooperation to combat nuclear smuggling, and our engagement with Georgia stands out.
Representing the United States will be U.S. Ambassador John Tefft and Mr. Michael Stafford, U.S. Negotiator for Nuclear Security and Dismantlement. Mr. Stafford was the lead U.S. negotiator who worked with the Georgian Government to develop the agreement.
The agreement is several months in the making. Delegations of the Governments of the United States of America and Georgia met in Tbilisi on September 18, 2006 to continue discussions on the capabilities of Georgia to combat smuggling of nuclear and radioactive materials. As a result of these discussions, the delegations reached agreement on a set of priority needs that should be addressed to most effectively improve Georgia’s anti-nuclear smuggling capabilities.
Targeted areas for assistance include strengthening Georgia’s Nuclear Regulatory Agency, patrolling of border areas between established points of entry, border police aviation, maritime patrol and coordination center, and international cooperation on nuclear forensics. Specifics of assistance will be developed in the future through
coordination with the relevant U.S. and Georgian agencies.
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