He outlined six areas in which it was important to make progress, ranging from nuclear arsenals to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. The United States will provide a cost-free expert to the IAEA to help assess nuclear safety risks associated with the Y2K computer problem. Also at the press conference were Dr. Ernest Moniz, under secretary of energy, and Rose Gottemoeller, director of DOE Office of Non Proliferation and National Security. Let me outline the speech that I just gave in terms of what is new and what is not new and what our objectives are here, and then take your questions.
International cooperation is the key to a safe and secure nuclear future.
This meeting comes at a very important time. Because the nuclear tests conducted by India and Pakistan underscore the importance of the entry into force of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and of achieving a Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty. This is because progress has been made in our talks with the North Koreans in New York. The Department of Energy will soon launch a nuclear energy research initiative to promote research and development on advanced nuclear power systems with enhanced nuclear reactor safety systems while meeting our non-proliferation economic and environmental goals. The United States will provide a cost-free expert to the IAEA to help assess nuclear safety risks associated with the Y2K computer problem.