Source: VOA News
Indian PM Manmohan Singh says Russia will help
his country build 4 new nuclear power plants. Mr. Singh made the announcement
after meetings in Moscow with Russian President Dmitri Medvedev.
President Dmitri Medvedev says the heads of the
Russian and Indian atomic energy agencies initialed the agreement to foster
nuclear cooperation between the two countries for years to come.
| "Today, we have
signed an agreement, which broadens the reach of our cooperation
beyond the supply of nuclear reactors to areas of research and
development and a whole range of areas of nuclear energy." |
Mr. Medvedev notes numerous ongoing energy
projects between the two countries, including many related to nuclear energy. He
says the latest agreement opens prospects for future cooperation. He says Russia
has experience at India's Kudankulam power station and is thinking about ways to
work at another site.
Mr. Singh called the Kudankulam site a symbol of Russian-Indian cooperation in
civilian nuclear power, adding that four more reactors will be built after a new
site is identified in West Bengal.
"Today, we have signed an agreement, which broadens the reach of our cooperation
beyond the supply of nuclear reactors to areas of research and development and a
whole range of areas of nuclear energy," he said.
According to the deal, Russia will also provide India with nuclear fuel for its
reactors.
President Medvedev says Russia and India want peaceful nuclear technology to
remain under the strict control of the International Atomic Energy Agency. He
notes that nuclear weapons are a separate issue regulated by special
international agreements. He adds that Russia opposes expansion of the nuclear
club.
Mr. Medvedev says it goes without saying that this also concerns the Iranian
nuclear program and any other country that could possibly use nuclear weapons.
Prime Minister Singh notes Russia and India share similar views in the fight
against global terrorism.
"We can share intelligence, information gathering and also use our
instrumentalities to pressurize countries, which give shelter and encourage
terroristic activities," he said.
Details of a separate arms agreement signed by the two countries are not
immediately available. Both sides are also reported resolving a disagreement
over India's purchase of the Admiral Gorshkov, Russia's Soviet-era aircraft
carrier, whose modernization has run into serious delays and cost overruns.
India was unwilling to meet Moscow's demand for $1.2 billion above an agreed
upon price for refurbishment of the warship, which was launched in 1982. There
is no word of a final figure.
... Payvand News - 12/08/09 ... --
