Yuri Kurin, President of National Guild of Court-Appointed Managers

– The agreements reached with Armenia is the common victory of Russian Government, Foreign Ministry and Rosatom

Nuclear industry is one of the most politicized sectors of the economy as it is related to defense and diplomacy. In my opinion, Russia is absolutely right turning its most reliable political allies into its partners in the nuclear sphere. Our first nuclear partner is Kazakhstan, who is also our most reliable political partner in Central Asia. Armenia is our closest ally in the Caucasus. So, the agreements reached during the visit of the Russian prime minister to Armenia is the common victory of the Russian Government, Foreign Ministry and Rosatom – for here we have a knot of national, geo-political and economic interests.

The Government of Armenia is going to announce a tender for the construction of new nuclear power plant. I think that Russia has the best chances to win the tender. The nuclear industries of all post-Soviet republics were formed at the Soviet times according to Soviet technologies. We still enjoy firm professional and personnel contacts. So, naturally, we are closer to Armenia than the other nuclear powers, the United States, France and Germany, are.

The establishment of the Russian-Armenian uranium prospecting company meets the interests of both countries. This project will certainly enhance our uranium reserves and give us profit.

As former resident of Irkutsk, I was first worried lest the membership of the International Uranium Enrichment Center might grow much too quickly. I thought that this might break the balance of Russian and even regional interests. But now I see that Russia is not making hurry in the matter and our first partners under the project are our reliable political allies, Kazakhstan and Armenia.