The White House, President George W. Bush Click to print this document

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 6, 2008

President Bush Pleased by Signing of U.S.-Russian Agreement for Cooperation

The President is pleased that the U.S.-Russian Agreement for Cooperation in the field of Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy (also known as a 123 Agreement) was signed today in Moscow, Russia. The conclusion of this agreement, which advances U.S.-Russia nonproliferation and civil nuclear energy cooperation goals, has been a priority for both President Bush and President Putin.

In the Strategic Framework Declaration, issued in Sochi, Russia on April 6, 2008, the two leaders made clear that this agreement will create the necessary legal basis for expanded cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The agreement will provide a framework for potential commercial sales of civil nuclear commodities to Russia by U.S companies. It will also pave the way for further cooperation under both bilateral and multinational programs and initiatives on nuclear energy and nonproliferation, such as the July 2007 U.S.-Russia Declaration on Nuclear Energy and Nonproliferation and the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP).

Currently, the United States has in force 22 bilateral agreements for peaceful nuclear cooperation, including an agreement with the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) permitting cooperation with the 27 Member States of the European Union. We look forward to sending this latest agreement to Congress for their consideration.

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