USIS Washington 
File

24 July 1998

TEXT: GORE-KIRIYENKO JOINT STATEMENT ON NUCLEAR CITIES INITIATIVE

(Meet in Moscow on July 23-24) (370)



(The White House Office of the Vice President released in Moscow the
following text of a joint statement by Vice President Al Gore and
Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Sergei Kiriyenko
July 24, 1998.)


JOINT STATEMENT ON U.S.-RUSSIAN COOPERATION TO IMPLEMENT THE NUCLEAR
CITIES INITIATIVE


U.S.-Russian cooperation in the nuclear field is becoming a permanent
part of the process of achieving nuclear security in the world, in the
broader sense.


Nuclear disarmament is associated with a number of socioeconomic
factors, which should be considered in the efforts of government
activities to develop the positive potential of this process,
including the problem of finding worthwhile employment in the civilian
sector of the economy for personnel formerly employed in the nuclear
complex.


In this regard, the Initiative by the U.S. Department of Energy and
Minatom of Russia to establish alternative peaceful production, which
is connected with the economic diversification and redirection of
facilities of the nuclear complex, is viewed as highly important.
Within the framework of the Initiative, work is under way to identify
commercially viable projects to produce civilian goods and services
and attract investments in such projects. This activity is known as
the "Nuclear Cities Initiative."


The parties note that the Initiative is envisioned as an equal
partnership, which is gaining increasing support in both government
and business communities in our countries, and express the hope that
it will result in alternative economic opportunity in the nuclear
cities.


The parties acknowledge that joint activities conducted under this
Initiative will require careful consideration and long-term
commitment. In this connection, we direct our respective organizations
to immediately begin the development of a government-to-government
agreement which establishes the formal framework for the Initiative,
and to start in 1998 the implementation of pilot projects leading to
economic diversification, including the creation of new civilian
sector jobs, in the nuclear cities.


Vice President of the

United States of America:



__________________________



Chairman of the Government

of the Russian Federation:



__________________________

MOSCOW, JULY 24, 1998