Russia assures Canada Iran nuclear project for '\'peaceful use'\' only

Published November 26th, 2002 - 02:00 GMT
Al Bawaba
Al Bawaba

Russia told a top Western diplomat visiting Moscow that it had taken measures to ensure Iran could not use a Russian-built nuclear power station to produce arms.  

 

Visiting Canadian Foreign Minister Bill Graham said on Tuesday he had received assurances from Russian Atomic Energy Minister Alexander Rumyantsev that Iran was committed to the peaceful use of nuclear technology.  

 

"(The Russians) have a vested interest in making sure this plant works in such a way that nuclear materials don't get diverted to improper purposes," Graham told reporters at the end of a two-day visit to Moscow, according to Reuters.  

 

He said Rumyantsev had pointed to 60 inspections of the site at Bushehr in the past two years with no evidence of illegal activity. Other assurances, he conveyed, could come from proposals to ensure spent fuel was removed and reprocessed safely outside the country.  

 

"I got very good assurances from the minister that the Russians are serious about monitoring and controlling and they'll make sure that Bushehr does not become a place for diversion of materials," he said. (Albawaba.com)

© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

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