Moscow, March 24, Itar-Tass/ACSNA/IRNA -- A Russian-Iranian protocol on the return of spent nuclear fuel from Bushehr nuclear power plant will be signed in Tehran or in Moscow in the near future, Iran's Ambassador to Russia Gholam-Reza Shafei told Tass in an interview on Tuesday.

Cooperation between Iran and Russia, he said, is "absolutely transparent and is being carried out in full compliance with international legislation and the applicable rules."

"In view of Iran's signing the supplementary protocol with the International Atomic Energy Agency and our commitment to the liabilities under the Nuclear Arms Non-Proliferation Treaty and the good political relationship with Russia, we hope that Russian-Iranian cooperation in the field of nuclear power will go on developing," the Iranian ambassador said.

"Cooperation in building the first unit of the Bushehr nuclear power plant is continuing. The reasons why construction work has fallen behind schedule will be discussed when a senior Russian official visits Iran shortly."

Ambassador Shafei said Russia and Iran had agreed to sign a protocol on the return of spent fuel to Russia.

"Alongside this protocol a supplement must be signed to the comprehensive contract on the construction of the nuclear power plant's first unit."

The two sides are in the phase of active coordination of these documents, to be signed in Tehran or Moscow soon.

"A second Bushehr reactor is a future project and more fundamental negotiations on it will follow," the Iranian ambassador said.

... Payvand News - 3/24/04 ... --