Bushehr gives Russia chances to build more stations in Iran
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Tehran, March 2, Itar-Tass/ACSNA/IRNA -- Russia has rather good chances to build more nuclear power plants in Iran, Russian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Iran Alexander Maryasov told Itar-Tass. "In order make our cooperation successful, we must, of course, round off the construction of the first generating unit of the Bushehr nuclear power plant within the time limits that were agreed with the Iranian side. This is bound to enhance Iran`s trust in Russia and in the work of Russian specialists. I believe this will create favorable conditions for the conclusion of new contracts," he stressed. "The Iranian side is offering us to jointly think of preparations to build one or two more generating units. Such an agreement was reached during Rosatom Chief Alexander Rumyantsev`s recent visit to Iran," Maryasov stated. A joint working group will be formed, he added, within which Russian specialists will help the Iranian side determine technologically and documentarily the site for the possible construction of at least one more generating unit. "Russia is playing the role of trailblazer, since it is building the first-ever Iranian nuclear power plant. I think the way will be paved for the participation of other countries in the construction of Iranian nuclear power stations after the situation around Iran relaxes and if Tehran will continue to cooperate actively, effectively and transparently with the International Atomic Energy Agency, will successful complete its negotiations with the `European Trio`. We, in turn, are prepared to give Iran our assistance, on condition that the Iranian side will steadfastly observe its international commitments. In this case, we believe, there will be no obstacles to further cooperation," the Russian ambassador stated. The documents on the return to Russia of the spent nuclear fuel and on deliveries of fresh fuel to the Bushehr plant, which the two sides signed last Sunday, are very important, he added. They have put an end to all the fabrications, conjectures and speculations on this subject, Maryasov pointed out. Today, `there are no more grounds for any cock-and-bull stories and speculative statements on this subject, which had been quite numerous in the past`. The signing of these documents paves the way to the tranquil completion of the first generating unit of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, he stressed. "These documents are of great political importance, because Iran`s consent to return the spent fuel to Russia does away with the allegations that the Islamic Republic of Iran could use the nuclear materials for some other undeclared purposes. The delivered fuel will be fully controlled by IAEA inspectors: from the very beginning of its shipment to its storage in special sealed depots. The IAEA will be responsible for constant, round-th e-clock monitoring, and it will be impossible to use these materials for any other purposes, but fueling the nuclear power plant," the Russian diplomat stressed. The Sunday Russo-Iranian agreements, signed at Tehran, prove that Iran is prepared to honor its international commitments," Maryasov stated. "This is to a definite extent a trust-building step, because Iran has declared its determination to return the spent fuel, which is now recorded in the signed documents," he concluded. /2322/1432
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