Participants 



Several possibilities exist as to participants in a fusion program, 

 with each possibility having advantages as well as disadvantages. 



International Atomic Energy Agency 



The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has established a 

 cooperative fusion program, which generally is considered to have been 

 useful. The difficulty concerns the issue of cooperation between East 

 and West because of current overriding political difficulties. 

 Although this vehicle for near-term international cooperation is not 

 currently viable, it should be kept in mind for the future, given that 

 the attainment of economical fusion power is thought to lie several 

 decades hence. If the political will should change so as to permit 

 cooperation between the East and West on fusion, the IAEA could be an 

 important organization bringing the parties together. 



International Energy Agency 



The International Energy Agency (lEA) is undertaking research and 

 development projects in the fusion area as evidenced by the following 

 agreements: "Implementing Agreement for a Programme of Research and 

 Development on Plasma Wall Interaction in Textor," August 10, 1977; 

 "Implementing Agreement for a Programme of Research and Development on 

 Superconducting Magnets for Fusion power," October 6, 1977; and 

 "Implementing Agreement for a Programme of Research and Development on 

 Radiation Damage in Fusion Materials," October 21, 1980. Certain 

 countries interested in fusion such as France do not belong to the 

 lEA, however," so that cooperation using the lEA framework could become 

 more complex. On the other hand, the existence of lEA with its fusion 

 program provides a ready international mechanism. 



Bilateral and Multilateral Arrangements 



The United States could have a bilateral arrangement with the EC and 

 one with Japan. In addition, Japan and the EC could have a bilateral 

 arrangement. This form has the advantage of direct relations between 

 two parties so that the cooperation and management may be somewhat 

 less complex. On the other hand, a major participant would not be 

 included; and, if additional bilateral arrangments were established, 

 in the end it might be more, rather than less, complex than a 

 multilateral arrangment. The United States and Japan have a bilateral 

 "Agreement on Cooperation in Research and Development in Energy and 

 Related Fields," dated May 2, 1979. In accordance with this 

 agreement, the two countries exchanged notes dated August 24, 1979, 



