Energy Secretary Abraham Travels to Brussels, London, Vienna, Moscow, Budapest to Promote President Bush's Hydrogen Initiative 3/5/2003
From: Jeanne Lopatto, 202-586-4940 or Drew Malcomb, 202-586-5806, both of the U.S. Department of Energy News Advisory: -- Energy Secretary Abraham Travels to Brussels, London, Vienna, Moscow and Budapest to Promote President Bush's Hydrogen Initiative -- Will Co-Host Conference on "Dirty Bombs", Hold Discussions with EU Commissioners, Meet with Russian Energy Officials Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham departed today on travel to promote President Bush's Hydrogen Initiative and meet with international energy officials to promote energy security both for the United States and the world at large. In Brussels, Secretary Abraham will hold meetings with the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Claude Mandil, as well as European Union President Romano Prodi, and will hold discussions on a variety of topics, including President Bush's Hydrogen Initiative. The Secretary will also participate in discussions with members of the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) and sign agreements to extend cooperative research in the field of nuclear-related technology research and development. In London, the Secretary will meet with Prime Minister Tony Blair's energy advisors, including Department of Trade and Industry Minister Patricia Hewitt, to discuss the U.S. / U.K. energy dialogue that President Bush and the Prime Minister agreed to during Blair's visit to Crawford, Texas, in April, 2002. The goal of the discussions is to provide a report to President Bush and Prime Minister Blair in April 2003, one year after they agreed to pursue the issue. The report is expected to include details of cooperative U.S. / U.K. ventures in the fields of clean coal technology, fuel diversity, environmental protections, energy security and the expansion of international trade. Also while in London, the Secretary will meet with oil and automobile executives and will again promote the President's Hydrogen Initiative, the FreedomCAR program and technologies for hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles that will emit no harmful pollutants or greenhouse gases. In Vienna, the Secretary will co-host the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) International Conference on Security of Radioactive Sources, a gathering of more than 600 experts from over 110 countries involved in promoting the security and safety of radioactive sources. He will be joined by IAEA's Director-General Mohamed El Baradei and Russia's Atomic Energy Minister Alexander Rumyantsev in the international conference in discussions of threats posed by under-secured radiological sources and their potential use in radiological dispersal devices (RDD) or "dirty bombs." The goals of the conference are to raise international awareness of the dangers of RDD devices and under-secured radiological sources, and urge better cooperation among nations to identify, prioritize, account for and secure RDD-related material. Also while in Vienna, Secretary Abraham and Russian Minister of Atomic Energy Alexander Rumyantsev will sign an agreement to proceed with the replacement of three Russian plutonium reactors with fossil fuel energy production facilities, a key component of the U.S. - Russian Nonproliferation Elimination of Weapons-Grade Plutonium Production program to assist in the cessation of weapons-grade plutonium production in Russia. In Moscow, Secretary Abraham will hold discussions with Russian Energy Minister Igor Yusufov and they will make a major announcement regarding a new U.S. Russia joint program. In Budapest, Secretary Abraham will give remarks to the American Chamber of Commerce and meet with Prime Minister Peter Medgyessy, Minister of Economy and Transport Istvan Csillag and the Director-General of the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority, Jozsef Ronaky to discuss energy-related topics of interest to both nations. Schedule of Media Events (All times are local to the event's location) Brussels, Belgium WHO: -- Secretary Abraham -- EU Commissioner for Research Philippe Busquin -- U.S. Ambassador R. Schnabel WHAT: Press Availability and Photo Opportunity WHERE: European Union Headquarters, Square de Meeus No. 8 WHEN: Thursday, March 6 3:45 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. --- London, England WHO: Secretary Abraham WHAT: Press Availability following meeting with auto and oil industry representatives WHERE: Institution of Civil Engineers, President's Dining Room WHEN: Monday, March 10 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. --- Vienna, Austria -- Event 1 WHO: Secretary Abraham WHAT: Speech at U.S. - Russia co-hosted IAEA International Conference on Security of Radioactive Sources WHERE: Hofburg Palace WHEN: Tuesday, March 11 9:30 a.m. to 10:35 a.m. (Secretary Abraham speaks from 9:45 a.m. to 10 a.m.) Vienna, Austria -- Event 2 WHO: -- Secretary Abraham -- IAEA Director-General El Baradei -- Russian Atomic Energy Minister Rumyantsev WHAT: Press Availability WHERE: Hofburg Palace WHEN: Tuesday, March 11 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. Vienna, Austria -- Event 3 WHO: Secretary Abraham Russian Atomic Energy Minister Rumyantsev WHAT: U.S. - Russia Agreement on Elimination of Plutonium Production Signing Ceremony WHERE: Hofburg Palace WHEN: Wednesday, March 12 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. --- Moscow, Russia WHO: Secretary Abraham Russian Energy Minister Igor Yusufov WHAT: Press Conference to announce joint U.S. - Russia program WHERE: Marriott Grand Hotel WHEN: Wednesday, March 12 3:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. --- Budapest, Hungary -- Event 1 WHO: Secretary Abraham WHAT: Remarks to American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) WHERE: Budapest Hyatt WHEN: Friday, March 14 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Budapest, Hungary -- Event 2 TENTATIVE WHO: Secretary Abraham WHAT: Press Availability, TDA Grant Signing WHERE: Budapest Hyatt WHEN: Friday, March 14 1:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. |