Iran`s signing of additional protocol to boost coop with RF
IRNA
Moscow, Nov 10, Itar-Tass/ACSNA/IRNA -- The signing of an additional protocol to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) by Iran `will remove the international community`s concern`, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said. Ivanov held talks with secretary of Iran`s Supreme National Security Council Hassan Rowhani on Monday. The Russian minister believes that `this open additional opportunities for cooperation between Russia and Iran in different field, including in the nuclear sphere`. Ivanov welcomes the fact that Iran spoke about its intention to sign the protocol in Moscow. "This proves of a high level of cooperation, mutual trust and joint actions at the international arena," the minister stressed. Rowhani said Iran `will hand over a letter to this effect to the International Atomic Energy Agency till the end of the day`. "The IAEA realizes that Iran`s nuclear program is of peaceful nature. "We`ve decided to sign the additional protocol with the Agency in order to confirm the confidence of the international community," he added. Rowhani said, "As of today Tehran has suspended its uranium enrichment program: Iran fulfilled all its obligations. Now it`s the IAEA turn to respond to our favorable attitude." He believes that during the talks, Russia and Iran `held a constructive dialogue on several important bilateral and regional issues`. The talks focused on prospects for the construction of a North-South transport corridor, cooperation in the oil and gas sector, and in the Caspian settlement, Rowhani said. "Russia and Iran maintain effective cooperation in the solution of regional problems. We intend to step up our interaction in ensuring stability in Afghanistan and the whole region," Rowhani said, adding, "Both sides are concerned about drug trafficking that is why we`ve agreed to step up the fight against this evil." Rowhani said the talks on Russia`s participation in the construction of the second unit of the nuclear power plant in Bushehr `will begin soon`. He said, "Cooperation between Iran and Russia in the nuclear field will be effective for peaceful purposes. "Today this cooperation is closer than earlier," he added. Russia`s Atomstroiexport, general contractor of the construction of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, handed over Iran documents on the technical feasibility study of the construction of the second unit of the nuclear plant, sources in the Russian Atomic Energy Ministry told Itar-Tass. According to the ministry spokesman, `an agreement to this effect was reached as part of Russian Atomic Energy Minister Alexander Rumyantsev`s visit to Tehran in December 2002`. The spokesman said, "The second unit of the nuclear power plant in Iraq should be built from scratch and not continue work on the construction of the reactor that was suspended by Germany`s Siemens under the US pressure several years ago." Now `Russian and Iranian specialists are finishing work on the construction of the first unit of the plant. It should be launched in 2004`. The cost of the construction of the first unit with VVER-1000 reactor, including supplied equipment, will amount to one billion US dollars, the spokesman said. /AH/210 End
