Nuclear News

Global Nuclear Energy Parntership to back peaceful use

Sep 16, 2007, 18:35 GMT

Vienna - The Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) initiated by US President George W Bush in 2006 agreed in Vienna on Sunday to back the peaceful uses of nuclear power in future while also improving its safety.

One day ahead of the annual meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna the GNEP's 16 member states signed a Statement of Principles, which addresses among other things a more intensive cooperation in the area of nuclear energy.

The group includes the United States, China, Russia and France as well as 10 states from the territory of the former Soviet Union.

One aim of the group is the peaceful uses of nuclear power, with members renouncing to enrich uranium themselves, instead relying on internationally guaranteed deliveries from current manufacturers of fuel rods.

This concept has so far been met with rejection by numerous countries around the world.