Framework Agreement on a Multilateral Nuclear Environmental Programme in the Russian Federation (Stockholm, May 21, 2003)

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF BELGIUM,

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF DENMARK,

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FINLAND,

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC,

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY,

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS,

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF NORWAY,

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION,

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF SWEDEN,

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND,

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY, AND

THE EUROPEAN ATOMIC ENERGY COMMUNITY

(hereinafter referred to as the Parties),

NOTING the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management of 29 September 1997 (hereinafter referred to as the Joint Convention);

NOTING that the Joint Convention stipulates that spent fuel and radioactive waste within military or defence programmes should be managed in accordance with the objectives stated in that Convention even though they are excluded from it except as provided in Article 3 thereof;

NOTING also the Convention on Nuclear Safety of 20 September 1994;

RECALLING the importance the Joint Convention attaches to international cooperation in enhancing the safety of spent fuel and radioactive waste management through bilateral and multilateral mechanisms;

REAFFIRMING the importance the Parties attach to the principles embodied in relevant international conventions on nuclear liability for the provision of international assistance in this field;

RECOGNISING the work of the Contact Expert Group for International Radwaste Projects established under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency to deal with issues regarding international cooperation in radioactive waste management and related issues in the Russian Federation, and its contribution to the development of a comprehensive International Action Plan;

DESIRING to facilitate practical cooperation to enhance the safety of spent fuel and radioactive waste management in the Russian Federation, in particular through the implementation of projects in the Russian Federation that may be identified by the Contact Expert Group for International Radwaste Projects;

RECALLING the Declaration of Principles by members and observers of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council representing Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, the Russian Federation, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States regarding the Multilateral Nuclear Environmental Programme in the Russian Federation signed at Bodo (Norway) on 5 March 1999 in which the participants declared their readiness to negotiate a multilateral framework agreement covering the necessary conditions for the provision of international assistance in this field;

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS: