OREANDA-NEWS. January 18, 2011. Russia and the USA have put into effect the intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of atomic energy also known as “Agreement 123”. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Ryabkov and US Ambassador to Moscow John Byerly exchanged the respective diplomatic notes.

“The notes state that all procedures required for entering of this agreement into force have been completed. Agreement 123 establishes the lacking framework for cooperation in the field of the nuclear power industry”, S.Ryabkov said.

“The Agreement opens up new opportunities for joint development of new technologies which will help us counter the global thread of nuclear proliferation, as well as offer new commercial opportunities for American and Russian companies in making the nuclear power industry cleaner, safer and more reliable”, the US ambassador added.

Recall that the agreement was signed on May 6, 2008 by General Director of Rosatom State Corporation Sergey Kiriyenko and US Ambassador to Russia of that time William Burns. In particular, the Agreement with the USA on cooperation in the nuclear sector allows Russia to supply uranium to American nuclear power plants, affords the opportunity for development of bilateral cooperation in the field of nuclear technologies and sharing such technologies and includes obligations concerning their nonproliferation. Agreement 123 actually came into force on December 9, 2010. But legally it has become into force upon exchange of the relevant notes between the USA and RF.