Norway-Russia relations A timely announcement

An agreement to be signed will give Norway extra time to respond in the event of a Russian nuclear accident,

Norway and Russia are expected to sign an agreement establishing a notification procedure in the event of a nuclear accident.

Under the terms of a similar 1993 agreement, Norway has regularly been permitted to to observe Russian nuclear response exercises. The new deal will require Moscow to hold additional exercises in order to test the new procedures.The warning system, though not a means of preventing accidents, would provide Norwegian authorities additional time to respond in the event of a meltdown or other catastrophe, according to The Arctic Journal.

“The new procedures we are now establishing with Russia will ensure early notification in the event of a nuclear incident, which is crucial for Norway's emergency preparedness,” Børge Brende, Norway’s foreign minister, said in a statement earlier this week, the newspaper reports.