Russia welcomes Iran`s signing of the additional protocol to NPT
IRNA
Moscow, Dec 19, IRNA -- Russia praised Iran`s Thursday gesture in signing the NPT additional protocol while hoping that the move would contribute to the better cooperation between Tehran and the IAEA. "We welcome Iran`s signing of the Additional Protocol to the IAEA Guarantees Agreement linked with the Nuclear Weapons Non-Proliferation Treaty," said spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry Alexander Yakovenko. The responsible step of the Iranian authorities shows that Tehran is determined to adhere to the drive of making its nuclear program absolutely transparent, Yakovenko added. The signing of this protocol and its immediate application will allow the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to exercise its control functions much more extensively and effectively in order to see that Iran observes its non-proliferation commitments. The Protocol allows holding unannounced or so-called surprise inspections. Yakovenko said he was sure that Tehran`s gesture in signing the NPT dditional protocol would help promptly clarify all the remaining problems concerning Iran`s nuclear program. The document has yet to be ratified by the Iranian parliament and this may take several months. Nevertheless, the Iranian authorities have promised to apply the stipulations of the Additional Protocol in practice as if it were already in force. Iranian delegate to the IAEA Ali Akbar Salehi also regards the signing of this document as "a historical moment" and called for the urgent settlement of all the remaining problems, linked with the Iranian nuclear program. Russian Deputy Minister and Secretary of State of the Ministry of Atomic Energy Valery Govorukhin said on Friday that the ministry wished to sign a protocol on the shipment of spent nuclear fuel from the Bushehr nuclear power plant to Moscow early in 2004. The Iranian side is ready to sign the document in January, during Russian Minister for Atomic Energy Alexander Rumyantsev`s agreed visit to Tehran. Govorukhin stressed that Russia had never linked the conclusion of a bilateral Russo-Iranian document on the return of spent fuel from the Bushehr nuclear power plant with Iran`s signing of the Additional Protocol to the IAEA Guarantees Agreement. It appears that the Iranian side is ready to sign the document with us in the same form as it was drafted a year ago and approved by all the Russian authorities concerned". The deputy minister also said "the Iranian side is prepared to begin talks in 2004 on the construction, with the help of Russian specialists, of a second generating unit at the Bushehr nuclear power plant. HB/214 End
