24 April 1998
(Operation Auburn Endeavor: fuel moved to United Kingdom) (360) Washington -- The United States has completed the removal of five kilograms of highly enriched uranium from a nuclear research center in the Republic of Georgia to the United Kingdom. The April 24 White House announcement said the successful project, dubbed Operation 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." This operation is "a powerful, positive example of how countries can cooperate in practical ways to lessen the dangers of nuclear proliferation," the White House said. Following is the text of the announcement: (Begin text) 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. (End text)