THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
The White House
__________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release April 24, 1998
Operation Auburn Endeavor
Today the United States, in close cooperation with Georgia and the United
Kingdom, completed the removal of about five kilograms of highly enriched
uranium (HEU) from Georgia to the United Kingdom. This operation, named
Auburn Endeavor, reflects the continued commitment of our governments to
international security and non-proliferation goals. It is the latest in a
series of international efforts to safeguard surplus nuclear materials.
Auburn Endeavor originated when the Georgian government sought U.S. help in
securing this research reactor fuel stored at the Nuclear Research Center
in Tbilisi. The U.S. Departments of Energy, Defense and State have worked
to secure and transport the material from Georgia to safe storage in the
United Kingdom. To assure the integrity of the mission and safety of
personnel, strict security measures were in effect and operational details
closely held.
This successful mission demonstrates the importance all three nations place
upon stemming the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the
strength of our commitment to that objective. The U.S. role in this
project was made possible by Congressional support of the Cooperative
Threat Reduction and other non-proliferation programs. Auburn Endeavor is
a powerful, positive example of how countries can cooperate in practical
ways to lessen the dangers of nuclear proliferation.
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