23.01.2007 // Polit.ru

Vladimir Putin: Russia supports the project to form IAEA controlled international uranium enrichment centers

“We believe that it is necessary to create a network of international uranium enrichment centers under the control of international organizations, first of all, IAEA. These centers should give equal, non-discriminatory, democratic access to technologies and materials but should, at the same time, observe the nonproliferation principles and requirements,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview to Durdarshan TV channel and PTI news agency from India on the eve of his visit to that country.

Speaking about Russian-Indian cooperation in peaceful nuclear energy engineering, Putin said that Russia and India are old partners in the sphere. “Our country has done much for the development of the Indian nuclear power engineering. Russia is aware of India’s plans to enlarge its nuclear power sector. Even more, our experts believe that these plans are well-grounded, otherwise, India will not be able to ensure its economic interests and planned economic growth,” Putin said. He noted that any country, any nation have the right to non-discriminatory access to modern technologies. «Besides, experts say that many countries will not be able to solve their energy problems without developing nuclear power engineering,» Putin said.

“This is not the problem – the problem is that the nonproliferation principles should be observed. This concerns not only India but many other “threshold” countries. That’s why, when we discuss, say, the Iranian nuclear problem, we should keep in mind that this is not a unique but a universal situation. That’s why Russia has its own considerations on the matter,” Putin said.

He noted that Russia is ready to support its Indian friends – of course, in line with its nonproliferation commitments: “For this purpose, we are negotiating with both our Indian partners and the Nuclear Suppliers Group. In any case, I believe that this directions is very promising.”

Putin said that this problem will be discussed during his visit to India: “I am going there exactly on the 60th anniversary of their independence and the establishment of our diplomatic relations. However, I am going there not just to take part in their holiday but to work. Of course, we will discus all these problems. It will be one of the key topics of our talks. I am sure that these talks and consultations will be useful. In any case, they will help us to further enlarge our cooperation. We may even conclude agreements. The visit will show what kind of agreements they will be,” Putin said.

Such centers are a guarantee for new countries intending to develop nuclear power engineering to get fuel for their NPPs without forming own nuclear fuel production centers that may use double purpose technologies.

The project was approved by IAEA Secretary General Mohamed ElBaradei during the 50th IAEA general conference in Vienna.