May 29, 2014

GOTTEMOELLER: PU DISPOSITION CHANGE WON’T BE MAJOR ISSUE TO RUSSIA

By ExchangeMonitor

With the Department of Energy looking at plutonium disposition alternatives to the Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility, the State Department’s top arms control official said late last week that she didn’t expect Russia to object to any changes to U.S. plans. Lawmakers that have opposed the Administration’s decision to put the MOX facility in “cold standby” have also suggested that Russia might oppose changes to the 2011 Plutonium Management and Disposition Agreement. “The plutonium disposition agreement per se does not require a particular disposition mechanism,” Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Rose Gottemoeller said at a Defense Writers Group breakfast Friday. “Clearly we’ll have to be completely transparent with the Russians and talk to them about the methods we are going to pursue but I don’t see it necessarily as being a major issue.”

Gottemoeller also said nuclear security work in Russia was continuing despite tensions between Russia and the U.S. over Ukraine, and she emphasized it should continue despite suggestions by some Republicans that such cooperation should stop. “We shouldn’t shoot ourselves in the foot in terms of stopping or halting important national security work that prevents nuclear bombs from getting into the hands of terrorists because we have other grave concerns,” Gottemoeller said. “We can walk and chew gum at the same time. We must continue to address our core national security concerns while we address these grave concerns about the crisis in Ukraine.”

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