U.S., Mongolia sign nuke terrorism pact

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- The U.S. and Mongolian governments signed a memorandum of understanding in Washington Tuesday to jointly fight against nuclear terrorism.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Clay Sell and Mongolia's Minister of Finance Nadmid Bayartsaikhan signed the agreement designed to prevent illicit trafficking of nuclear and other radioactive material.

"This agreement … solidifies the United States and Mongolia's commitment to promote our joint security and nonproliferation goals," said Sell. "This initiative builds on our ongoing cooperation to advance detection capabilities by deploying advanced technologies that will help reduce the threat of illegal shipments of nuclear and other radioactive materials into our countries."

The agreement allows the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration to install radiation detection equipment at several of Mongolia's main border crossings and at Khan International Airport in Ulaanbaatar.

Earlier, Mongolia became the first Asian nation to qualify for a $285 million aid package under President Bush's Millennium Challenge foreign aid program.