During a meeting in Moscow today between the Norwegian Embassy and Admiral Kuroyedov, Commander of the Russian Fleet, consent was finally given for Norwegian radiation protection experts to be present when the wreck of the submarine Kursk is raised.

State Secretary Espen Barth Eide of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is very pleased that it has been possible to reach this arrangement. "We have had contact with a number of Russian representatives on this matter," he said. "And we very much appreciate the open attitude and willingness to cooperate that we are now seeing."

Norway wishes to have someone on board one of the Russian vessels involved in raising the Kursk in order to conduct separate, independent measurements of any radioactivity released to the water or air at the site. The Russian radiation authorities will conduct their own measurements in the area.

However, experts from Russia and other countries, including Norway, agree that it is no indications that there will be any releases of radioactivity when the Kursk is raised.

The Norwegian experts are from the Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority. According to plan, the Kursk will be raised in mid-September this year.