Government enhances nuclear and radiation safety

Ukraine's Cabinet has approved the Agreement on coordination of interstate relations among CIS member states in the field of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, signed on May 31, 2013 in Minsk (Belarus), with one reservation, the Information-Analytical Bulletin of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine informs.

The reservation reads as follows: "From the present day on Ukraine is not a party to the Agreement on cooperation in development and exchange of information, or in creation and development of information systems of the CIS member states in the field of peaceful use of nuclear energy, dated Sep. 14, 2007, and, accordingly, does not take obligations thereunder." Thus, the government enacted the Agreement dated May 31, 2013, reversing the previous one dated 2007.

According to government experts, the validation of the Agreement will help enhance nuclear and radiation safety of Ukraine, as the CIS states make all decisions under the Agreement in respect of complementary safety standards. The agreement will also set new development standards for the nuclear power industry based on innovative technologies, as well as on development of regulatory instruments.

The significant role of the nuclear industry in the economic and social development of the CIS states gives this agreement a leading role in shaping of the cooperation security in the area, government experts say. And introduction of its regulations will help ensure effective coordination of joint activities in developing of nuclear energy in the CIS agreement signatory states.