Russia says it holds fixed stances on Iran's nuclear activities
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Tehran, Dec 11, IRNA
Iran-Russia-Kiriyenko
Head of Russia Federal Atomic Agency Sergei Kiriyenko said on Monday that Russia's stances vis-a-vis Iran's nuclear activities are unchanged both in words and action.
"Iran's nuclear case should be settled diplomatically and in this connection, Russia's stances are the same both in words and action," said Kiriyenko in a joint press conference with Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki.
Kiriyenko said Iran's nuclear case should follow diplomatic course.
"The right for use and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons should be definitely observed; of course it is too hard to mix the two points but a breakthrough should be found," he made it clear.
He said that as for Iran's nuclear case he has a simple answer, which is 'Russia's stance has always been stable and will remain so in future too'.
He said any country on earth has the right to developing peaceful nuclear industries and that 'holds true for Iran'.
The non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, however, should be observed, he added.
He ruled out any option other than diplomacy for settlement of Iran's nuclear case.
"Russia will never yield to imposition and Iran's nuclear case should have only a political solution. Other issues such as common enrichment in Russian territory should be touched in talks and Russia is ready to put it at the disposal of Iran," he added.
He added that the Russian offer can be taken into consideration and there is no technical problem in that area but more proposals, if any, would be studied.
Elsewhere in the interview, Kiriyenko said that he and Iranian officials had in the Tehran-Moscow Joint Economic Commission session Monday reached agreement in energy, gas, oil, power, car manufacturing, aviation, infrastructural services, and transportation sectors as well as construction of Bushehr power plant.
He referred to part of the mutual agreements, including those pertaining to gas recovery, exploitation and transmission on a venture by Iranian companies and Russian Gazprom Co., Lukoil oil exploration in Azadegan, implementation of Tabas power station tender, launching Zohreh satellite, development of ports in the Caspian Sea, tourism, joint investment and purchase of five TU-204 planes.
He said a joint commission, comprising Iranian, Armenian, Azeri and Russian energy representatives, are to discuss seasonal power exchanges and its economic benefits so as to remove certain barriers and bring about proper conditions for it.
"Iran and Russia understand each other and we have the duty to remove restrictions and obstacles on the way," he concluded.
1420/2322/1412
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