ST PETERSBURG, July 15: Russia and the United States announced new joint plans on Saturday to counter the threat of nuclear terrorism while also working together to promote safe use of nuclear energy.

The two countries said nuclear terrorism was ‘one of the most dangerous international security challenges’ as presidents Vladimir Putin and George Bush unveiled the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism.

Under the plan, Russia and the United States agreed to work out rules for ensuring tighter control over nuclear materials and facilities, combat trafficking in nuclear substances and pre-empt would-be nuclear attackers.

“We stress that consolidated efforts and cooperation to combat the threat of nuclear terrorism will be carried out in accordance with international law,” the two countries said in a joint statement after talks between Mr Putin and Mr Bush.

The initiative stipulates that Russia and the United States will work together on ‘development of technical means to combat nuclear terrorism’.

It also says both sides will ensure ‘law enforcement takes all possible measures to deny safe haven to terrorists seeking to acquire or use nuclear materials’.

Speaking at a joint news conference after a meeting with Mr Bush, Mr Putin said the nuclear cooperation plan was a US initiative that was supported by Russia and that called for ‘the most serious measures’ to counter nuclear terror.

The scheme ‘reaffirms the shared desire of Russia and the United States to counter this dangerous threat and opens new horizons for our joint efforts’ in this area, Mr Putin said.

In a separate joint statement, Mr Bush and Mr Putin said they also planned to begin looking at ways for their countries to step up cooperation on nuclear energy to expand its use while tightening security controls.

“The United States and the Russian Federation believe that strengthening their cooperation in civil nuclear energy is in the strategic interests of both our countries,” the statement said.—AFP