OREANDA-NEWS. June 26, 2009. Russia and Germany welcome each other’s respective International Uranium Enrichment Center and Multilateral Enrichment Sanctuary initiatives, says the “Principles of fuel supply guarantees and the multilateralization of fuel cycle activities” working paper submitted to the IAEA Secretariat by Germany and the Russian Federation (INFCIRC/759).

The paper says: “We are committed to the goals of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in all of its three pillars, non-proliferation, disarmament and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. We respect the inalienable right of all States parties to the Treaty to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, including the development of fuel cycle activities, in conformity with their obligations under the Treaty.”

“Back-up mechanisms and multilateral fuel cycle guarantees could reduce proliferation risks while at the same time increasing energy security and reducing costs. Multilateral cooperation in the area of fuel supply will help to build trust and foster the implementation of the Treaty in all three pillars. We therefore welcome the role that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has played in promoting multilateral approaches to the nuclear fuel cycle, including nuclear fuel assurances.”

“Fuel supply and multilateralization and guarantee schemes should not have any negative impact on the functioning of the market but should, on the contrary, widen its geographical basis on the supply side. Due to their historical and socio-economic experiences and environments, States will perceive proposed guarantee schemes and multilateral fuel supply chains differently. Countries should have an opportunity to choose between different supply chains and different types of guarantees.”

“In the framework of strengthening the Treaty we welcome the Russian initiative to set up multinational centres to provide nuclear fuel cycle services and, as the first step, to establish the International Uranium Enrichment Centre on the basis of the enrichment plant in Angarsk, which the Russian Federation has offered to place under IAEA safeguards. States participating in the centre will have guaranteed access to enrichment services to meet their nuclear fuel needs without the necessity of developing their own production facilities.”

“We also welcome the German proposal of a multilateral enrichment sanctuary project, which offers a perspective for countries to gain full and independent ownership of enrichment capacities without further proliferation of sensitive nuclear technologies.”

“We are also prepared to work together with IAEA and with other countries to clarify outstanding issues regarding the benefits and practical questions of fuel reserves as well as multinational centres.”

“We take stock of the existing experiences in international cooperation in the area of nuclear fuel supply activities, for instance, the cooperation Germany has undertaken with partners in the framework of Urenco and the steps taken by Urenco partners to widen access to its technology without creating proliferation risks.”