Decision-makers from international, national, regional and local governments will together with various agencies discuss the political and technical progress made on the issue.

"There has been a positive development with regards to radioactive waste management in many countries," said Claes Thegerstroem, the head of the Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Company.

"Sweden, Finland, France and the United States have all made important decisions in order to pursue long-term and safe solutions," she said.

The conference, which is being hosted by the company, opens on Monday until Wednesday.

Among those scheduled to attend are Mohamed ElBaradei, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN's nuclear watchdog, as well as the head of the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency, Luis Echavarri.

The meeting, which is a follow-up to a November 1999 conference held in Denver in the United States, will also discuss various sociological aspects, such as issues involved in deciding to where to place radioactive materials.

WAR.WIRE