Russia is ready to support India’s efforts to develop peaceful nuclear power engineering: Vladimir Putin

23.01.2007 // ITAR-TASS

Russian President Vladimir Putin assures that Russia is ready to support India’s efforts to develop peaceful nuclear power engineering

Russia and India are old partners in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, Russian President Vladimir Putin says in an interview to Indian mass media. «We are ready to support our Indian friends — certainly, in line with our nonproliferation commitments. For this purpose, we are negotiating with both our Indian partners and the Nuclear Suppliers Group.»

«In any case, this direction of our cooperation is very promising,» says Putin.

He points out that Russia does not link its cooperation with India with that country’s nuclear and other relations with other countries, particularly, the US. «Our relations with India are based on bilateral cooperation. We certainly observe the nonproliferation principles and hope that our partners will do the same. We can decide on our own what to do under our agreement with our Indian friends, but I would like to say once again that we observe our international commitments,» says Putin.

«We are aware of the plans of the Indian Government to enlarge their nuclear power sector. Even more, we believe that these plans are well-grounded. Otherwise, India will not be able to ensure its economic interests and planned economic growth. That’s why we are considering various projects in this sphere. Here, we cooperate with not only our Indian friends but also with other partners, including the NSG. Russia is India’s reliable partner and real friend. We have done much to create peaceful nuclear power engineering in India and we are ready to continue our cooperation.»