Administrator Thomas P. D'Agostino, of the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) will visit Georgia June 13-14. During the visit he will meet with officials at the Ministry of Internal Affairs and other government officials to discuss U.S.-Georgian cooperation on improving Georgia's capabilities to combat nuclear smuggling. Administrator D'Agostino will also tour NNSA deployments in Georgia.

Through its Second Line of Defense (SLD) Program, NNSA provides radiation detection equipment, related communications equipment, and training to partner countries throughout the world, in order to enhance the capacity of foreign governments to deter, detect, and interdict illicit transfer of special nuclear and radiological materials at international border crossings and other points of entry/exit.

On December 6, 2005, DOE/NNSA and the Georgian Department for State Border Defense (Border Police) signed an Implementing Agreement to implement the SLD Program in Georgia. Since that time NNSA has worked directly with the Georgian Border Police and Patrol Police, Ministry of Internal Affairs, and Customs, to provide radiation detection equipment and sustainable training for screening at airports, seaports and its land border crossings. Upon Program completion, an estimated 98% of trans-border traffic will be screened for nuclear and other radioactive materials out of regulatory control.