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Russia in plutonium disposal pact Russia and US sign plutonium pact
(about 2 hours later)
Russia is to spend $2.5bn to dispose of some of its weapons-grade plutonium under a deal signed with the US at a nuclear security summit in Washington. Russia and the US have agreed to dispose of tonnes of surplus weapons-grade plutonium under a deal signed at a nuclear summit in Washington.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said his country had 34 tonnes of plutonium that was "no longer needed". The deal calls for each side to dispose of 34 tonnes of the material by using it as fuel for nuclear reactors.
The US would provide $400m of the funding for the disposal, he added. Moscow is to spend $2.5bn (£1.63bn) on the programme with the US contributing $400m to the Russian disposal.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said it was enough plutonium for 17,000 nuclear warheads.
Earlier, US President Barack Obama urged leaders to adopt a "new mindset" in dealing with the risk of nuclear material falling into the wrong hands.Earlier, US President Barack Obama urged leaders to adopt a "new mindset" in dealing with the risk of nuclear material falling into the wrong hands.
Since the end of the Cold War, the risk of nations going to war with nuclear weapons had lessened, Mr Obama told the 47-nation meeting.Since the end of the Cold War, the risk of nations going to war with nuclear weapons had lessened, Mr Obama told the 47-nation meeting.
Terrorist networks such as al-Qaeda have tried to acquire the material for a nuclear weapon and, if they ever succeed, they would surely use it Barack ObamaTerrorist networks such as al-Qaeda have tried to acquire the material for a nuclear weapon and, if they ever succeed, they would surely use it Barack Obama
But in "a cruel irony of history the risk of a nuclear attack has gone up", he added.But in "a cruel irony of history the risk of a nuclear attack has gone up", he added.
"For the sake of our common security, for the sake of our survival, we cannot drift. We need a new manner of thinking, and action. That is the challenge before us.""For the sake of our common security, for the sake of our survival, we cannot drift. We need a new manner of thinking, and action. That is the challenge before us."
He warned that a quantity of radioactive material just "the size of an apple" would be enough to kill thousands of people.He warned that a quantity of radioactive material just "the size of an apple" would be enough to kill thousands of people.
"Terrorist networks such as al-Qaeda have tried to acquire the material for a nuclear weapon and, if they ever succeed, they would surely use it," he said."Terrorist networks such as al-Qaeda have tried to acquire the material for a nuclear weapon and, if they ever succeed, they would surely use it," he said.
"Were they to do so, it would be a catastrophe for the world, causing extraordinary loss of life and striking a major blow at global peace and stability," he added."Were they to do so, it would be a catastrophe for the world, causing extraordinary loss of life and striking a major blow at global peace and stability," he added.
The US and Russia said they wanted to make arms reduction irreversibleThe US and Russia said they wanted to make arms reduction irreversible
The US state department said the agreement signed by Moscow and Washington on Tuesday was a major step forward on disposing of "excess weapon-grade plutonium".The US state department said the agreement signed by Moscow and Washington on Tuesday was a major step forward on disposing of "excess weapon-grade plutonium".
"The signing also signifies our commitment to making arms reductions irreversible and to reducing the danger of this material ever falling into the hands of terrorists," it added."The signing also signifies our commitment to making arms reductions irreversible and to reducing the danger of this material ever falling into the hands of terrorists," it added.
Earlier, Mexico pledged to eliminate all its highly-enriched uranium. The country will work with the US, Canada and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to convert the uranium at its research reactor into lower-grade fuel.Earlier, Mexico pledged to eliminate all its highly-enriched uranium. The country will work with the US, Canada and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to convert the uranium at its research reactor into lower-grade fuel.
Ukraine said on Monday that it would ship its high-enriched uranium to protected storage sites abroad - possibly in Russia or the US.Ukraine said on Monday that it would ship its high-enriched uranium to protected storage sites abroad - possibly in Russia or the US.
Co-ordinated effortCo-ordinated effort
Leaders at the summit are expected to issue a joint statement later pledging a co-ordinated effort to bloc "non-state actors" from obtaining nuclear material and weapons for "malicious purposes".Leaders at the summit are expected to issue a joint statement later pledging a co-ordinated effort to bloc "non-state actors" from obtaining nuclear material and weapons for "malicious purposes".
A draft calls for new controls on plutonium and highly-enriched uranium, and a crackdown on illicit nuclear trafficking, including sharing information and expertise in detection and forensics.A draft calls for new controls on plutonium and highly-enriched uranium, and a crackdown on illicit nuclear trafficking, including sharing information and expertise in detection and forensics.
Iran's President Ahmadinejad has called a rival nuclear summitIran's President Ahmadinejad has called a rival nuclear summit
But the leaders will warn that increased security must "not infringe upon the rights of states to develop and utilise nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and technology", according to the draft.But the leaders will warn that increased security must "not infringe upon the rights of states to develop and utilise nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and technology", according to the draft.
In his opening remarks, Mr Obama also announced the next nuclear security summit would be held in South Korea in 2012.In his opening remarks, Mr Obama also announced the next nuclear security summit would be held in South Korea in 2012.
"This reflects South Korea's leadership regionally and globally," he said."This reflects South Korea's leadership regionally and globally," he said.
The two-day summit is the biggest international meeting hosted by the US since 1945.The two-day summit is the biggest international meeting hosted by the US since 1945.
It is taking place without representatives of Iran and North Korea, neither of which were invited by the US because of disputes over their nuclear programmes.It is taking place without representatives of Iran and North Korea, neither of which were invited by the US because of disputes over their nuclear programmes.
In a defiant move, Iran has announced that it will hold its own nuclear summit in Tehran this weekend with the foreign ministers of 15 countries.In a defiant move, Iran has announced that it will hold its own nuclear summit in Tehran this weekend with the foreign ministers of 15 countries.
It is estimated there are about 1,600 tonnes of highly enriched uranium in the world - the type used in nuclear weapons.It is estimated there are about 1,600 tonnes of highly enriched uranium in the world - the type used in nuclear weapons.
Experts agree that virtually all of it is held by the acknowledged nuclear-weapons states, most of it in Russia.Experts agree that virtually all of it is held by the acknowledged nuclear-weapons states, most of it in Russia.
Last week, the US and Russia signed a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, reducing each country's deployed nuclear arsenal to 1,550 weapons.Last week, the US and Russia signed a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, reducing each country's deployed nuclear arsenal to 1,550 weapons.
Mr Obama has also approved a new nuclear policy for the US, saying he plans to cut the nuclear arsenal, refrain from nuclear tests and not use nuclear weapons against countries that do not have them.Mr Obama has also approved a new nuclear policy for the US, saying he plans to cut the nuclear arsenal, refrain from nuclear tests and not use nuclear weapons against countries that do not have them.