Belarus, USA to cooperate in nuclear security

Belarus and the United States will be developing cooperation in nuclear security. The matter was discussed at a meeting of the Belarusian delegation with Administrator of the United States National Nuclear Security Administration Lisa Gordon Hagerty in Vienna on 17 September, BelTA has learned.

Attending the meeting on Belarus’ behalf was head of the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department of the Belarusian Emergencies Ministry (Gosatomnadzor) Olga Lugovskaya, representatives of the Joint Energy and Nuclear Research Institute Sosny of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The parties reaffirmed commitment to joint efforts to secure the global nuclear safety and security regime. Belarus thanked the United States for assistance in developing competencies in physical protection, nuclear and radiation security, including a series of training events for healthcare workers, representatives of the regulatory body (Gosatomnadzor) and scientific organizations.

The United States provides support in strengthening nuclear security and implementing modern approaches to physical protection of the Joint Energy and Nuclear Research Institute Sosny of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. Expert and technical support is also provided to further enhance the nuclear and radiation safety in the country. Belarusian and American scientists have been successfully conducting joint research. Plans are in place to establish a training center at the Sosny Institute with the support of the United States.

Belarus also updated the U.S. representatives on the progress made in the implementation of the BelNPP project.