The First International Information Exchange Forum was held 24 - 27 September 1996 in Obninsk, Kaluga Region, Russia. It was sponsored by the US Department of Energy (DOE) and was organized by Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) in cooperation with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), the Institute of Physics and Power Engineering (IPPE) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Additional cooperation was received from Canada (Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd, AECL), France (Riskaudit)., Germany (Gesellschaft fuer Reaktorsicherkeit, GRS), Sweden (Swedish International Nuclear Safety Project, SINSP) and Switserland (Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate, SFNSI).

Notwithstanding the fact that the meeting was organized on rather short notice, the number of papers that were submitted for presentation turned out be unexpectedly high. In total about 38 papers were presented. Full papers were reproduced at the meeting and made available to all participants.

The Second International Information Exchange Forum, held 8-12 September 1996 in Obninsk, Kaluga Region, Russia, was jointly sponsored by the US Department of Energy (DOE) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). It was organized by Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) in cooperation with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and the Institute of Physics and Power Engineering (IPPE). Additional valuable cooperation was received from the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) of OECD, Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd (AECL), the Swedish International Nuclear Safety Project (SIP) and the Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate.

The number of papers that were submitted turned out be unexpectedly high. In total 49 presentations were made. The increasing safety-analysis capability and activity at nuclear power plants was demonstrated by the larger number of presentations made by staff members of operating nuclear power plants in Russia and Ukraine.

The Third International Information Exchange Forum on Safety Analysis for Nuclear Power Plants, held 26 - 30 October 1998 in Obninsk, Kaluga Region, Russia, was sponsored by the US Department of Energy (DOE) and the Russian Institute of Physics and Power Engineering (IPPE). It was organized and conducted in cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Swedish International Project on Nuclear Safety (SIP) and the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

The number of papers that were submitted for presentation was unexpectedly high. For that reason, in view of the limited time available and in the interest of allocating adequate time for panel discussions, it was decided to have part of the papers presented in poster sessions. In total about 60 presentations were made.

The Fourth International Information Exchange Forum on Safety Analysis for Nuclear Power Plants (Forum-99), was held 11 - 15 October 1999 in Obninsk, Kaluga Region, Russia. It, was sponsored by the US Department of Energy (DOE) and was organized and conducted in cooperation with the Russian Institute of Physics and Power Engineering (IPPE), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA-OECD).

In total 71 papers were presented. Because of this relatively large number and in view of the limited time available, part of the papers had to be presented in poster sessions. Also, a number of the papers were presented in two days of parallel sessions conducted by the International RELAP Users Group (IRUG).

The Fifth International Information Exchange Forum on Safety Analysis for Nuclear Power Plants (Forum-2000), was held 16 - 20 October 1999 in Obninsk, Kaluga Region, Russia. It, was sponsored by the US Department of Energy DOE) and was organized and conducted in cooperation with the Russian Institute of Physics and Power Engineering (IPPE), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Swedish International Project on Nuclear Safety (SIP) and the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA-OECD).

In total about 95 papers were presented. Because of this relatively large number and in view of the limited time available,part of the papers had to be presented in poster sessions. Also, a number of the papers were presented in two days of parallel sessions conducted by the International RELAP Users Group (IRUG).

These Forums have contributed to an improved exchange of information between organizations and individuals working in the field of nuclear safety. It is only through such personal interaction that a uniform level of nuclear safety can be attained, leading to enhanced perational safety at nuclear power plants worldwide. It is hoped that future Forums will be received with the same interest and support and will continue to contribute towards the enhancement of safety in all its aspects.