VALUE OF A COOPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP FOR SECURITY OF A SAFER WORLD

Cooperation among countries to improve the security of radioactive and nuclear assets is clearly the key to success in establishing a safer, more secure world. Over the past few years the U.S. Department of Energy’s Global Threat Reduction Initiatives (GTRI) program has actively engaged with many countries to identify, account for, and support enhancements to security and accounting measures for these materials. The Republic of Albania has demonstrated its willingness and desire to work closely with the United States to achieve and implement the GTRI goals for security of their assets. The GTRI program has assisted the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in development on a variety of subject areas related to security of sources and nuclear materials. Albania, a Member State of the IAEA, received training and information support from the agency. The leadership of the Albanian nuclear program has changed, but the commitment of Albania to work closely with GTRI continues. The GTRI/Albania global partnership has made significant accomplishments in security and safe storage of Albania’s nuclear assets. This paper describes the history of the Albanian nuclear program and the achievements of the cooperative program with GTRI that have resulted in a more secure Albania.