KIEV, UKRAINE -- US Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman and his Ukrainian counterpart David Zhvaniya, Minister for Emergencies, today signed an Implementing Arrangement to partner together to advance international nonproliferation goals by improving the security of Ukraine's radioactive materials.  These radioactive materials are no longer considered useful for production, but could be used in building a radiological dispersal device such as a ‘dirty bomb.’

"This Implementing Arrangement is a significant step forward in our partnership to  safeguard these radioactive materials and advance the security of the region," Secretary Bodman said.  "Presidents Bush and Yushchenko, who met in Washington DC earlier this year, pledged cooperation between our two nations to promote nuclear safety, security of nuclear materials, and nonproliferation.  I'm honored to help move that agreement forward through today's signing ceremony." 

Under the Arrangement, the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Office of Global Radiological Threat Reduction can begin working with Ukraine’s Ministry of Emergencies to upgrade security at the six Ukrainian storage facilities where high-risk radioactive sources are stored. 

The Implementing Arrangement is an important element of the new 21^st Century Agenda for the Ukrainian-American Strategic Partnership, which President Yushchenko and President Bush met to discuss earlier this year in Washington, DC. 

The Office of Global Radiological Threat Reduction is part of the Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI), which works to identify, secure, remove and/or facilitate the disposition of vulnerable, high-risk nuclear and other radiological materials around the world as expeditiously as possible.  GTRI has initiated radiological threat reduction efforts in 40 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and South and Central America. 

Media contacts:
Anne Womack Kolton, 202/586-4940
Drew Malcomb, 202/586-5806