WASHINGTON

The US and Slovenia signed a civil nuclear energy pact Tuesday geared at strengthening and expanding bilateral cooperation on the matter, according to the State Department.

The memorandum of understanding "improves our cooperation on energy security and strengthens our diplomatic and economic relationship," the department said.

"The United States and Slovenia have been partners in civil nuclear energy since 1975, when construction began on the Westinghouse nuclear power plant at Krsko that has been supplying clean energy to the region since 1983," it said.

The agreement was signed by Acting Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Dr. Christopher Ford, and Jernej Vrtovec, Slovenia's minister of infrastructure.