RADIOACTIVE SOURCES: SLOVAK REACTION

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000138 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KNNP TRGY ENRG KSTC PARM OPDC PREL LO IAEA SUBJECT: RADIOACTIVE SOURCES: SLOVAK REACTION REF: STATE 22020 POST DELIVERED REFTEL LETTER AND BACKGROUND PAPER TO FOREIGN MINISTER KUKAN, AND POLOFF THEN MET WITH OFFICIALS AT THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY AUTHORITY AND HEALTH PROTECTION AUTHORITY TO DISCUSS TALKING POINTS. THE NRA HANDLES RADIOACTIVE WASTE AND NUCLEAR POWER, WHILE THE HPA LICENSES RADIOACTIVE SOURCES IN NON-POWER APPLICATIONS AND MONITORS THEIR USE AND THE PUBLIC'S EXPOSURE TO RADIATION. OFFICIALS IN BOTH OFFICES WERE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT SUPPORTING THE IAEA CODE OF CONDUCT, HAVE PARTICIPATED IN ALL MEETINGS ON THE SUBJECT. SLOVAKIA APPEARS TO EXERCISE STRICT CONTROL OVER THE LIMITED AMOUNT OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL USED IN THE COUNTRY. SLOVAKIA PASSED AN ACT AND REGULATION ON RADIATION PROTECTION IN 2000 THAT CONFORMS TO EU DIRECTIVES ON THE SUBJECT. OFFICIALS NOTED THAT SLOVAKIA IS NOT A PRODUCER OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL, BUT THERE IS SOME STILL HERE FROM BEFORE CZECHOSLOVAKIA SPLIT IN 1993. THOSE WHO USE RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL IN NEW PROJECTS MUST INCLUDE A PROVISION IN THE CONTRACT FOR ITS SAFE TRANSPORT BACK TO ITS ORIGIN AFTER THE MATERIAL HAS SERVED ITS PURPOSE. WEISER NNNN