Livni, Clinton agree to maintain close cooperation on Iran's nuclear issue

Updated January 23, 2009 04:07 AM

JERUSALEM (Xinhua) - Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and new US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton yesterday agreed to maintain close cooperation on Iran's nuclear issue, local daily Ha'aretz reported on its website.

Shortly after Clinton officially took the helm at the US State Department yesterday, Livni and Clinton had a phone conversation and agreed to cooperate closely on the issue of Iran'snuclear program. The two also agreed to work together in order to exert more pressure on Tehran, according to Ha'aretz.

The United States and Israel have been accusing Iran of developing secretly nuclear weapons under the cover of civil nuclear program. Iran denies the charges.

Turning to situation in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, Livni told Clinton that Israel is involved in humanitarian efforts to reconstruct the Palestinian coastal enclave, which has been ravaged by Israeli army's 22-day Cast Lead Operation. The foreign minister said that Israel strongly opposes Hamas receiving a leading role in those efforts, adding that the international community must not grant Hamas any legitimacy.

"Hamas is the enemy of peace in the region," said Livni, "It threatens anyone who wants quiet in the Middle East."

Also yesterday, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had a phone conversation with Clinton and congratulated her on assuming her important and central office.

According to a statement released by Olmert's office, Olmert told Clinton that Israel is interested in continuing to advance the Middle East peace process and intends to invest great effort in providing humanitarian assistance to Gaza residents.

Israel would also do its utmost in order to fight terrorism and prevent weapons from being smuggled to the militant groups in Gaza, vowed the premier.

Earlier yesterday, Clinton, who arrived at the US State Department for her first full day as secretary of state, promised a new era in US diplomacy but tough times ahead.

source: www.philstar.com

Ex-soldier backs nuclear veterans

An ex-soldier with cancer is backing calls by veterans of nuclear tests in the South Pacific for compensation.

Barry Hands, 71, from Droitwich, Worcs, said he was ordered to stand on a beach during five nuclear explosions on Christmas Island in the 1950s.

Nearly 1,000 veterans have taken the Ministry of Defence to the High Court saying they suffered illness as a result of the tests.

The MoD says it compensates when liability is proven.

The three-week hearing will decide if a full hearing over the multi-million pound compensation claim will go ahead.

The ex-servicemen want compensation for illnesses, including cancer, skin defects and fertility problems, which they claim result from exposure to radiation during nuclear bomb testing.

But MoD lawyers are arguing the tests happened too long ago for compensation to be considered.

'Duty of care'

Mr Hands, who has malignant melanoma, said the servicemen did not have the resources to carry out "exhaustive medical tests" to back their case.

But he believed the numbers "would indicate that there is a connection between the young men who went out on these nuclear testing programmes who have come back with cancers" in relation to the general population.

Mr Hands added that other countries, including France and Australia, who were involved in the tests had paid out to their claimants.

He said: "I find it strange that the government doesn't accept it has a duty of care to the young men who were sent out there."

At Tuesday's hearing, Benjamin Browne QC, who is representing the ex-servicemen, said science had made a link between their health and role in the tests.

Mr Browne pointed to the Rowland study of a small group of New Zealand test veterans which "proved that most, if not all, of them suffered genetic effects due to radiation exposure".

An MoD spokesman said the government recognised "the vital contribution service personnel played in the UK's nuclear tests during the 1950s" and understood its obligation to veterans.

He added: "Where there is a proven legal liability, compensation is paid."

source: news.bbc.co.uk

Reaching Out to the Next Generation

source: www.iaea.or.at

IAEA Hosts Hundreds of Students at Vienna HQ, Among Other Initiatives

Staff Report

12 December 2008

The IAEA is extending its reach to the next generation of potential nuclear practitioners. Approximately 2,500 students from all over the world visit the Agency’s headquarters in Vienna, Austria each year.

Students from high school up to the graduate level have the opportunity to learn about the IAEA’s work in the areas of safeguards and verification, nuclear science and applications, and nuclear safety and security. During their visits students get insight into the IAEA's critical work in less known yet all-important areas such as food security, health and child nutrition.

For example, the IAEA recently hosted a group of 25 Hungarian high school students, who were chosen from 2 small towns - Paks and Komlo. They were enthusiastic about the visit, and also got the chance to report on their vision of nuclear power.

IAEA staff from the Nuclear Energy and Public Information divisions dedicated an entire day to explaining and expounding upon the IAEA’s work in developed and developing countries around the world.

Ambassador and Resident Representative of Hungary, Ms. Györgyi Martin Zanathy and representative of the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority, Mr. Miklós Csuvár, both made presentations during the 28 October event. A Hungarian TV crew was also on hand and filmed the proceedings.

Oszvald Glöckler, Nuclear Power Engineer with the IAEA says, “This event is part of our effort to support education on issues of energy and international cooperation.”

The IAEA also has other outreach activities geared towards young people. It offers some job opportunities under a Junior Professional Officer programme, which gives young professionals a chance to gain work experience in an international environment.

The IAEA also accepts a limited number of interns each year. Internships are awarded to persons studying toward a university degree or who have recently received a degree. Interns are chosen from a number of fields including natural sciences, engineering, administration and management as well as the social sciences.

The IAEA has long been involved in the academic development of young people. Along with the Organisation For Economic Cooperation and Development´s Nuclear Energy Agency, the World Association of Nuclear Operators and the World Nuclear Association, the IAEA has supported the World Nuclear University (WNU) Summer Institute since its inception in 2005. Each year, the Institute invites about 100 WNU Fellows from approximately 35 countries. They are selected on several criteria, including leadership potential.

These young professionals are educated in a broad range of activities, which include nuclear energy issues, team-building and leadership exercises, where some of the world’s notable experts in the field will tutor and lead the Fellows through the programme.

Nuclear Safety´s Long Horizon

Nuclear Installation Safety Takes Stage at Conference in India
Staff Report
17 November 2008
source: www.iaea.org

Potential newcomers to the world of nuclear electricity production are getting close attention this week in India. An international conference on topical nuclear safety issues in Mumbai will help them focus on what IAEA experts describe as "a hundred year horizon".

"Many new entrants are embarking on nuclear power," points out Mamdouh El-Shanawany, Head of the IAEA´s Safety Assessment Section. "It requires a 100-year commitment from the beginning to the end."

The conference provides an excellent opportunity for new and experienced nuclear power countries to learn about the infrastructure required for building and maintaining a safe and productive nuclear energy programme. The infrastructure includes legal, regulatory, technological, human and industrial support. The conference brings together top nuclear regulators from among the 145 IAEA Member States.

"You cannot design, construct, operate and eventually decommission a nuclear plant without proper safety infrastructure. Therefore, new entrants need to build their nuclear safety infrastructure 5-10 years before embarking on nuclear power," says Mr. El-Shanawany.

This year´s International Conference on Topical Issues in Nuclear Installation Safety will be held in Mumbai, India from 17-21 November 2008. The theme is Ensuring Safety for Sustainable Nuclear Development.

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Tvel pushes Russian nuclear energy with Slovak deal

Russia's nuclear industry has boosted its influence in the heart of Europe following a deal to supply more than half of Slovakia's electricity. The EU electricity generator says Russian nuclear fuel's now not just cheaper but safer than Western rivals.

Russian nuclear fuel leader Tvel beat off America's Westinghouse in the $630 million deal which will supply Slovakia with 57% of its electricity.

Paolo Ruzzini, CEO of Slovanske Elektrarne said Tvel was cheaper and safer than the US offer.

“All the items - first of all the safety level, the reliability that we have built up and of course the competitiveness of the overall process.”

Tvel's the world number three producer after Westinghouse and Areva. It already makes fuel here for the French giant. Yury Olenin, President of Tvel says as the nuclear industry grows, the number of players will fall.

“Synergies are being forced by the investment required for such high-tech development. Soon there'll be just a few big players, and they'll work together.”

Nuclear's star is on the rise. The Slovakian side tipped it to almost double to a quarter of Europe's energy mix over the next 12 years. On Monday India said Russia was favourite to build its 2 new reactors.

Tvel already supplies England, Germany and China as well as Iran. The firm complains privately that's despite French-lobbied restrictions on EU uranium imports.

This is uranium dioxide, the highly toxic core of Russian nuclear success. Experts say it's one of the few hi-tech sectors where Russia is truly world-class. Tvel's target now is to raise global market share from 17% to 25% by 2020.