Czech to sign agreement with US to set up joint nuclear center

The Czech government says it will sign an agreement with the United States to establish a joint center for civil nuclear cooperation. Czech Education Ministry says Prime Minister Petr Necas and President Barack Obama agreed on the project during their talks at the White House in 2011, according to the Associated Press. The ministry says it will sign a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday with representatives of US Department of Energy and the US State Department. The ministry said Monday the center will be based at the Czech Technical University in Prague and that scientists from four U.S. universities, two laboratories and US Nuclear Regulatory Commission will participate in its programs. The US government will contribute $500,000 for the first two years of the center.