Nuclear Nonproliferation in Russia

Nuclear Nonproliferation in Russia in 2013

United States views on international law [1] in relation to Nuclear Nonproliferation in Russia: On May 15, 2013, the United States deposited its instrument of acceptance for the Framework Agreement on a Multilateral Nuclear Environmental Programme in the Russian Federation (“MNEPR Agreement”) with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (“OECD”) done at Stockholm on May 21, 2003. The OECD received the U.S. instrument of acceptance and confirmed that, in accordance with Article 18, paragraph 1 of the MNEPR Agreement, the MNEPR Agreement entered into force for the United States on June 14, 2013.

Some Aspects of Nuclear Nonproliferation in Russia

On June 14, 2013, the United States and Russia signed a bilateral protocol to MNEPR, as well as a related implementing agreement. As described below, the United States and Russia will use MNEPR, the bilateral protocol, and the related implementing agreement as the basis for their future cooperation on a range of nuclear nonproliferation matters. This new legal framework took the place of the 1992 Agreement between the United States of America and the Russian Federation Concerning the Safe and Secure Transportation, Storage and Destruction of Weapons and the Prevention of Weapons Proliferation (commonly known as the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction (“CTR”) Umbrella Agreement), which expired on June 17, 2013. The State Department issued a fact sheet, excerpted below and available at (Secretary of State website) state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2013/06/210913.htm, on cooperation under the new legal framework.

Developments

As long-time partners with a mutual interest in promoting nuclear security, the United States and the Russian Federation have successfully worked together on a broad range of activities designed to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) by securing and eliminating WMD-related materials and technology, and engaging relevant expertise. This close cooperation will continue under a new framework that reflects the evolution of this longstanding partnership, recognizes common threats, and provides for the continuation of a range of cooperative projects to reduce nuclear threats. It also allows for the addition of new activities in the future.

Details

Future joint nuclear security activities in the Russian Federation will be conducted under the 2003 Framework Agreement on a Multilateral Nuclear Environmental Programme in the Russian Federation (MNEPR) and a related bilateral Protocol signed on June 14, 2013 in Washington, D.C.

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Under the new bilateral protocol to MNEPR, U.S.-Russian cooperation will continue in a broad array of nuclear security and nonproliferation areas, including but not limited to:

improving security of nuclear and radiological material;

customs control of nuclear and radioactive material;

recovery and securing of radioactive sources;

consolidation of nuclear material and conversion of excess highly enriched uranium (HEU) to low enriched uranium (LEU);

conversion of HEU research reactors to operate with LEU; and

nuclear submarine dismantlement.

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The new framework includes provisions that will authorize and facilitate bilateral cooperation in these areas and are based on the provisions of the previous agreement on bilateral nuclear security cooperation. We anticipate a number of U.S. government organizations, including the Departments of State, Energy, and Defense, will remain involved under this new agreement.

Nuclear Nonproliferation in Russia in 2013 (Continuation)

United States views on international law [1] in relation to Nuclear Nonproliferation in Russia: Under the new framework, the Russian Federation will assume the costs and complete without further U.S. assistance two areas of bilateral CTR cooperation previously covered by the CTR framework: ballistic missile elimination and chemical weapons destruction. Projects in both areas were winding down this year after many years of successful cooperation. The parties continue to discuss potential technical cooperation on chemical weapons destruction outside the new framework. Additionally, we have worked together intensively over the years with Russia on its nuclear warhead protection systems. We are proud of these joint efforts, and Russia will now take full responsibility over this mission.

More about Nuclear Nonproliferation in Russia

The United States looks forward to continued partnership on nuclear security with the Russian Federation in this new era of nonproliferation cooperation. The citizens of both of our nations are safer for the work that was completed under the Cooperative Threat Reduction program, and we are strongly committed to making further progress under this new cooperative agreement.

Development

On September 16, 2013, on the margins of the International Atomic Energy Agency's General Conference in Vienna, Russia and the United States signed an agreement to expand their cooperation in the field of nuclear research and development. As described in a State Department news article, available at (link resource) iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/english/article/2013/09/20130917283046.html#axzz 2pd2wc3yI:

The agreement will complement provisions of the U.S.-Russian Agreement for Cooperation in the Field of Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy, which came into force in January 2011 and opened new opportunities to work together on a wide range of issues in this sphere, according to the U.S. Energy Department.

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Potential projects covered by the agreement could include international safeguards, establishment of a Multi-Purpose Fast Research Reactor International Research Center, irradiation of fuels and materials in the fastspectrum research reactor BOR-60, and defense from asteroids, among others. The United States and Russia are equal partners under the agreement, with each country bearing its own costs.

Details

The United States and Russia also signed an amendment to the Agreement on the Establishment of Nuclear Risk Reduction Centers (“NRRCs”) on October 7, 2013. The NRRCs are used to send notifications in conjunction with at least 13 different conventional and other kinds of treaties between the United States and Russia, serving as a critical component in helping the two sides to apply the rules and avoid misunderstanding. Secretary Kerry said of the amendment, “by upgrading the centers, it provides vital support for our strategic and our conventional arms treaties and agreements, like the New START Treaty.” Joint press availability with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov after their meeting in Indonesia, available at (Secretary of State website) state.gov/secretary/remarks/2013/10/215162.htm. The State Department media note on the amendment is excerpted below and available at (Secretary of State website) state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2013/10/215165.htm.

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The original agreement, between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, was signed on September 15, 1987, and established Centers in Washington, DC and in Moscow to provide the time-sensitive communications required by arms control treaties and security agreements. With over 26 years' experience, the Centers continue to support a robust array of conventional and strategic arms control treaties and agreements and confidence-building measures.

Resources

Notes

1. Nuclear Nonproliferation in Russia in the Digest of United States Practice in International Law

Resources

Notes

1. Nuclear Nonproliferation in Russia in the Digest of United States Practice in International Law