US, Russia Discuss Non-Proliferation Efforts

Crosswalk.com ^ | January 30 2004 | Sergei Blagov

[knighthawk]

Moscow (CNSNews.com) - The Russian Foreign Ministry described non-proliferation talks with the United States on Friday as "serious, businesslike and pragmatic," but Moscow has so far refrained from a clear commitment to join the U.S.-backed Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI).

U.S. Undersecretary of State John Bolton traveled to Russia this week for talks aimed largely at urging Russia to join the PSI, which is designed to further curb the spread of weapons of mass destruction.

Bolton met with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kislyak, who is in charge of non-proliferation issues; Atomic Energy Minister Alexander Rumyantsev, and other officials.

So far, Moscow's response to the PSI has been muted. Russia will make a decision on whether to join PSI based on its "national interests," according to the official RIA news agency, quoting Russian Foreign Ministry sources.

Many of the PSI's goals are in line with Russia's national interests, but some questions about the PSI have yet to be answered, the foreign ministry said.

Russia is the only G8 member that has yet to join the PSI, which was announced by U.S. President George W. Bush last May.

Apart from the PSI, U.S. and Russian negotiators reportedly discussed North Korea as well as efforts to hold a new round of six-way talks on Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions in February.

Meanwhile, Bolton reportedly urged Moscow not to supply nuclear fuel to Iran's Bushehr reactor until Tehran addresses international concerns about its nuclear program.

In response, Atomic Energy Minister Rumyantsev told a press briefing in Moscow that significant progress in bilateral dialogue on Iran has been achieved. Rumyantsev also claimed that Iran's signing of the additional protocol to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty came as a result of Russia's "joint efforts" with the U.S.

The additional protocol allows for comprehensive IAEA inspections of nuclear facilities without prior notice.

Russia has long been criticized for its help in building the Bushehr nuclear plant on Iran's Gulf coast. The U.S. insists that the Russian technology could be used to develop nuclear weapons, but Moscow and Tehran argue that the plant could be used only for civilian purposes.

Moscow has brushed off repeated U.S. demands that it cancel Bushehr's 1,000 megawatt light-water nuclear reactor project. The Kremlin has repeatedly argued it abides by international agreements banning the proliferation of nuclear technologies.

Russia has said it will freeze construction on the $1 billion Bushehr nuclear plant and that it will not begin delivering fuel for the reactor until Iran signs an agreement that would oblige it to return all of the spent fuel back to Russia for reprocessing and storage. This agreement was reported as close to being signed last September but so far the deal has failed to fully materialize.

Last October, Russia announced a delay for the launch the nuclear reactor until 2005 and urged Tehran to improve disclosure of its nuclear plans. However, there has been no talk in Moscow about dropping the Bushehr agreement.

Moreover, Atomic Energy Minister Rumyantsev told journalists in Moscow that Russia was yet to decide on whether to build a second nuclear reactor at Bushehr. He said the decision would be made after his planned visit to Iran on Feb. 15.

Rumyantsev also claimed that unnamed "competitors" were allegedly concerned over Russia's nuclear energy exports hence they have allegedly tried to tarnish the country's reputation. He also stated that Russia's nuclear energy export potential reached $3 billion in 2003.

[knighthawk]

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