The US and Russian governments have signed an agreement that is a step toward implementing a program that would turn plutonium suitable for nuclear weapons into a proliferation-proof energy source, the State Department said today.
The protocol is a key step to enable cooperation between the two countries to convert 34 metric tons each of excess weapons-grade plutonium, totaling enough for more than 16,000 nuclear weapons," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in a statement.
Robert Joseph, undersecretary of state for arms control and international security, and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kislyak signed the agreement in Washington, the Department of Energy said in a separate statement.
The liability protocol brings the two countries closer to the planned nonproliferation program, which would eliminate 68 metric tons of surplus weapons-grade plutonium, the Energy Department said.
The program would provide plutonium that could be used in nuclear power plants, but not in weapons.
The agreement is "an important part of the Bush administration's effort to keep nuclear material out of the hands of terrorists," Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said.
