WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman will travel to Vienna, Austria, to chair the second Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) Ministerial on Sunday, September 16, 2007, with partner countries: China, France, Japan, and Russia.  While in Vienna, Secretary Bodman will deliver remarks at the 51st International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) General Conference on Monday, September 17, 2007. 

The second GNEP Ministerial aims to further international cooperation in expanding the use of clean, safe nuclear power worldwide through the development and deployment of advanced technology.  New member countries will join existing members in attending the ministerial and signing the GNEP Statement of Principles, which establishes broad guidelines for participation and provides a framework for all future involvement in GNEP.  The first GNEP Ministerial held on May 21, 2007 brought together some of the leading nuclear fuel cycle states to discuss GNEP and senior energy officials from China, France, Japan, Russia and the United States issued a joint statement in support of the GNEP and nuclear energy cooperation.  As part of President Bush’s Advanced Energy Initiative, GNEP seeks to develop worldwide consensus on enabling expanded use of economical, carbon-free nuclear energy to meet growing electricity demand. 

While in Vienna, Secretary Bodman will deliver remarks to the IAEA General Conference where he is expected to highlight the importance of safe and secure conditions for the expansion of nuclear power around the world and the role of GNEP in furthering this development and meeting growing electricity demand.  Secretary Bodman will also discuss the importance of reaffirming commitments to extend the peaceful use of nuclear energy, strengthening international nonproliferation measures and ensuring controls on nuclear technologies and materials through global cooperation.

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