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RANSAC Nuclear News, June 30, 2003 Compiled By: Billy Magnuson A. Multilateral Threat Reduction
 A. Multilateral Threat Reduction 1. Japan Pledges to Help Russia Dismantle Nuclear Submarines Russia and Japan on Saturday signed an agreement under which Russia will receive US$150 million to scrap more than 40 decommissioned nuclear submarines. The agreement was signed as Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi toured the Zvezda facility in Russia's Far East where the submarines are being disassembled. The foreign minister also saw a floating facility used for processing spent nuclear fuel at Zvezda. The United States has also given some US$120 million for work at Zvezda, but that funding is to end this year and the facility has been searching for more sponsors. In 1999, Japan pledged US$200 million to help Russia clean up its Soviet nuclear legacy. Some of that money went to build the processing facility at Zvezda and the agreement signed Saturday releases the remaining money, said Kawaguchi's spokesman, Hatsuhisa Takashima. Russia has decommissioned about 190 nuclear-powered submarines over the past 15 years. Officials say 90 of those still languish at docks in various parts of the country with nuclear fuel in their reactors, fueling worries of environmental hazards or that radioactive materials could fall into the hands of terrorists. Kawaguchi said the agreement would lead to further cooperation not only in the environmental sector but all spheres of bilateral relations, the ITAR-Tass news agency reported. She noted the Far East had long been closed to foreigners during Soviet times, but that now Russia was opening up as it developed a market economy. Kawaguchi is in Russia's Far East on a two-day visit that continues Sunday with talks on a planned oil pipeline in eastern Siberia. Return to Menu 2. Millions Promised for Scrapping Subs Britain pledged $48 million last week and Japan signed off on $150 million on Saturday to help Russia scrap the nuclear-powered submarines that sit rusting in their docks. And on Monday, if not delayed by another glitch, Russia is to sign an agreement with Norway that will bring in more than $10 million more. Russia has about 90 of these decommissioned subs with nuclear fuel still in their reactors, and the fear is that the radioactive materials could leak into the seas or fall into the hands of terrorists. The Norwegian money is intended to cover the costs of disposing of two submarines in the Northern Fleet. The $150 million agreement signed by Russia and Japan is for scrapping 40 submarines in the Pacific Fleet. The agreement was signed as Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi toured the Zvezda facility, in the Primorye region on the Sea of Japan, where the submarines are being disassembled. In 1999, Japan pledged $200 million to help Russia clean up its Soviet nuclear legacy. Some of that money went to build the processing facility at Zvezda and the agreement signed Saturday releases the remaining money, said Kawaguchi's spokesman, Hatsuhisa Takashima, The Associated Press reported. The United States has also given some $120 million for work at Zvezda, but that funding is to end this year. Last week during President Vladimir Putin's state visit, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said he and Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov signed an agreement allowing Britain to spend 30 million pounds ($48 million) helping Russia dismantle decommissioned nuclear submarines and store tons of spent nuclear fuel. The Group of Eight industrial countries announced a commitment a year ago to provide $20 billion over the next 10 years to Russia and other countries to fight the spread of weapons of mass destruction. The contract with Norway is to be signed at 6 p.m. Monday in Moscow, Nuclear Power Ministry spokesman Eduard Shingaryov said Friday. State Secretary Kim Traavik is to sign for Norway, Traavik's spokeswoman Catherine Andersen said in an e-mailed statement. Norway is putting up 10 million euros to dismantle one sub at Nerpa in the Murmansk region and another in Zvyozdochka in Severodvinsk near Archangel, Andersen said. The agreement was first scheduled for signing on June 12, but the Russian side balked when Norway refused to fund reprocessing of the spent nuclear fuel at the Mayak facility in the Chelyabinsk region. In 2002, Norway's parliament forbid the funding of any environmental or nuclear dismantlement projects that involved the reprocessing of nuclear fuel. The agreement to be signed Monday includes only removing the fuel, dismantling the subs and shipping the spent fuel to a storage place, both sides said. Sergei Antipov, a deputy nuclear power minister, was quoted by Nuclear.ru as saying last week that it took him by surprise that literally on the day the contract was to be signed he understood that it did not include dealing with the spent fuel. Charles Digges, a researcher at Bellona Foundation, a Norwegian environmental watchdog, said the Russians should have understood the Norwegian position from the beginning. "As for Norway's surprise about being handed a bill for reprocessing fuel, the Russians should have known they would react that way," Digges said by e-mail last week. "So whether Antipov is reliable or not, he was either uninformed or just plain cheeky to suggest that Norway foot that part of the bill. He simply should have known better." Vladimir Kuznetsov, director of the nuclear and radiation safety program of the environmental organization Green Cross, said in a telephone interview Thursday that the Norwegians' were right to be concerned about reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel. "The main risks are -- reprocessing leads to more plutonium, and its storage leads to the risk of its theft," said Kuznetsov, who previously worked at Gosatomnadzor, Russia's nuclear safety watchdog. "Reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel is effectively a criminal act. All the spent nuclear fuel must be buried in proper storage facilities that must be built close to where the subs are located now," According to Bellona, of the 250 nuclear-powered submarines built by the Soviet Union, 130 have been decommissioned but only 40 have been disposed off. Return to Menu 3. Tokyo-Moscow Accord on Dismantling Russian Nuclear Subs Japan and Russia on Saturday signed an agreement to speed up the dismantling of decommissioned Russian nuclear submarines in the Sea of Japan which are considered a potential environmental hazard to the region. Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi, who is on a two-day visit to the region, was present at the ceremony signing the document, in which Japan pledged 800 million yen (5.8 million euros, 6.6 million dollars) for the project dubbed "Star of Hope". The accord signed by Japan's ambassador to Russia Issei Nomura and Russia's deputy atomic energy minister Sergei Antipov is for an 18-month period. Russian nuclear submarines taken out of service in the Sea of Japan "represent a risk of environmental contamination and a security threat," the Japanese minister said, emphasising the need to ensure that nuclear arms could not be used for terrorist ends. "That is why this project to dismantle the submarines must be carried out conscientiously," she added. Over the past decade, Japan has contributed 20 billion yen (169 million dollars, 144 million euros) towards the nuclear submarine recycling programme, but so far only four billion yen have been used to set up the region's sole recycling plant at Zvezda. The outstanding 16 billion yen has remained unspent. Japan has expressed concern on several occasions over the delays dogging the programme. Forty-one nuclear submarines have been decommissioned from Russia's Pacific Fleet in the Russian far east, of which 36 are deemed to present a very high risk of radioactive contamination. Return to Menu 4. �30m Deal to Clean Russia's Nuclear Legacy Britain and Russia have signed an agreement clearing the way for the UK to spend �30 million on dealing with the nuclear legacy of the former Soviet Union. Projects will begin immediately to dismantle decommissioned nuclear submarines from the Cold War era and safely store tonnes of spent nuclear fuel and other nuclear waste. Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the agreement, which he signed with his Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov during President Vladimir Putin's state visit, formed a crucial part of Britain's efforts to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Britain today also joined the Arctic Military Environmental Co-Operation programme, which includes work on dismantling nuclear submarines. Mr Straw said: "Tackling WMD proliferation is one of this Government's highest priorities. Our co-operation with Russia on dealing with its nuclear legacy is a crucial part of this." Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt added: "Dismantling nuclear submarines and making safe spent nuclear fuel are among Russia's highest priorities in dealing with the legacy of the Cold War. This is difficult, complicated work in which the UK can offer real experience and assistance. "Not only does this project offer proliferation and environmental benefits, it also presents future business opportunities for UK companies with nuclear clean-up expertise." Funding for the work comes from the UK's �450 million 10-year commitment to the G8 Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction, announced by Tony Blair last year. The UK has agreed to dismantle two submarines at the Sevmash shipyard near Archangel, removing spent nuclear fuel then cutting up the body of the submarines and dealing with the reactor compartment, nuclear and other toxic waste. Britain has also agreed to help construct new facilities for storage of spent fuel at Murmansk and also to research how best to clean up the former Russian Navy onshore nuclear storage site Andreeva Bay. Return to Menu 5. Japan Foreign Minister to Visit Zvezda that Disposes of Russia's Nuclear Subs Visiting Russia on June 28 through 30, Yoriko Kawaguchi will inspect the Zvezda factory, until recently a closed enterprise. The disposal of submarines beyond their service life is one area where Japanese-Russian co-operation is a success, Vice-Premier Victor Khristenko told a RIA Novosti news conference. "It will be the first opportunity for a high-ranking Japanese representative to inspect this Russian factory", said Khristenko. As regards a Russian-Japanese agreement on co-operation in the disposal of nuclear submarines, "its preparation is nearing completion", he said. "If the process ends in the next few days, the agreement may be concluded during Kawaguchi's visit to Vladivostok, or just after his visit ends," Victor Khristenko said. Return to Menu 6. Russia, Britain for Agreement to Finance NCB Elimination Igor Ivanov, Russia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Jack Straw, Great Britain's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, are signing today an agreement for a financing programme to destroy mass destruction arsenals, the Foreign Office says in an official press release. The programme implies a total thirty million pounds to dismantle discarded nuclear submarines and safely dispose of a many tonnes stock of depleted nuclear fuel. The United Kingdom is allocating another ten million pounds on the Nordic Dimension environmental programme. Implemented by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Nordic Dimension implies a number of ambitious projects to utilise depleted nuclear fuel and other nuclear waste in addition to programmes at which Britain is working on a bilateral footing. Return to Menu B. Nuclear Cities Initiative 1. Russian Experts to Head to Aiken team of nuclear scientists from Russia will visit Aiken next month to complete a management course aimed at training Cold War-era nuclear experts to use their skills on the free market and not on weapons of mass destruction. Professors and consultants at the University of South Carolina Aiken have been working with the Russian scientists through the U.S. Department of Energy's Nuclear Cities Initiatives program. The Russian representatives first visited USC Aiken in March to learn the management training. After their visit, professors David Harrison and Niren Vyas traveled to Russia with consultant and former Savannah River Plant manager Ron Feller to learn more about America's Cold War counterparts. The Russian coalition of three scientists is tentatively scheduled to visit from July 18 until July 27. They will receive the final round of training needed to teach hundreds of other scientists how to make it in an open economic system. After a series of disarmament agreements between American and Russia, the production of weapons-grade nuclear material in both countries has slowed. But compared with scientists in America, scientists in Russia have had a more difficult time marketing their skills because of a more stagnant economy. American officials fear that, given the nuclear know-how of Russian scientists, they could be tempted to make weapons for nations such as Iran. "The scientists and researchers who are associated with the nuclear plants, they were more or less without work," Dr. Vyas said Thursday. "There was a possibility that some of them might defect to Iraq, Iran or North Korea. Those countries were willing to give them millions of dollars to go." "What they're trying to do is get these people in the nuclear facilities to become entrepreneurs," Mr. Feller said. Dr. Vyas said some scientists already have started businesses, including one that produces titanium knee joints and another that hopes to market titanium to high-end car companies. Return to Menu C. Nuclear Safety 1. Kalinin NPP Hosts 14th Annual Conference of Nuclear Society of Russia July 4, 2003, the Kalinin N-Plant will host the 14th annual international conference �Scientific basis for safe application of nuclear power technologies�, promoted by the Nuclear Society of Russia, as Nuclear.Ru was informed by the press service of Rosenergoatom Concern. About 500 scientists, Minatom officials, representatives from all the country�s NPPs as well as delegates from Youth Department of Nuclear Society of Russia have come to Udomlya town, 400 km from Moscow, to attend the conference. The participants are going to discuss issues that cover the whole production cycle of nuclear power generation: manufacturing of fresh nuclear fuel, its performance characteristic for electric and thermal power generation, safe management of spent nuclear fuel. Special panels will discuss such topics as power generation, nuclear fuel cycle, experience preservation and transfer, youth involvement. Other issues related to the safe development of nuclear power in Russia and worldwide, environmental and energy security are also set for discussion. Return to Menu 2. US DOE Team Visited Kursk and Novovoronezh N-Plants June 17-19 the US Department of Energy team of officials paid a working visit to Kursk and Novovoronezh nuclear power plants under the International Nuclear Safety Program (INSP), as Nuclear.Ru was informed by the Rosenergoatom press center. The US team included James Turner, the Head of National Nuclear Security Administration Division, Robert Moffit, the INSP leader from Pacific North-West National Laboratory, Penni Caroline Sanches, the Second Secretary for Environment, Science and Technology of the US Embassy in Moscow, and Mikhail Tsiklaury, the expert from the US DOE Moscow�s Office. During the visit the US team was shown to the operating equipment previously supplied to NPPs under INSP including the safety parameter display systems, pumping stations, repair equipment, etc. In addition, the team visited facilities of Kursk NPP. The plant Chief Engineer V. Ryakhin informed the guests on Kursk-1 upgrades and Kursk-5, which is expected for commissioning in 2006, safe operation features. At Novovoronezh plant the team got familiarized with safety analyses activities underway at units 3 and 4 where part of this work was done with INSP funds. The Russia-US cooperation in this field is implemented under the international agreement concerning improvement of operational safety, measures to reduce risk and radiation safety standards regarding civil nuclear installations in the Russian Federation concluded 16 December 1993 to foster activities to implement the Lisbon Initiative. The total funding for projects was about US$ 170 million including FY 2003. Return to Menu D. Russia-Iran 1. Iran's Nuclear Chief in Moscow to Test Strength of Cooperation The head of Iran's atomic energy body met with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov amid international protests and diplomatic confusion over Moscow's nuclear cooperation with Tehran. Russian officials told AFP that Iranian Vice President and head of the nuclear program Gholam-Reza Aghazadeh was also due to meet with Russian Atomic Energy Minister Alexander Rumyantsev and Security Council Secretary Vladimir Rushailo. The 28-member Iranian delegation's visit was to end Wednesday with the signature of a joint protocol -- although officials refused to confirm that the future of Moscow's controversial construction of the Bushehr nuclear power plant would be mentioned. Ivanov told Aghazadeh that Russia was seeking to expand cooperation with the Islamic state on all fronts. "We are interested in developing wide-ranging cooperation with Iran," the RIA Novosti news agency quoted Russia's top diplomat as saying. "Our cooperation has progressed notably in recent years and we hope this trend continues and intensifies," Ivanov said. The Iranian nuclear chief said that his country views Russia "as a strategic partner and a real friend." Russia has come under mounting pressure to reassess its policy of constructing a nuclear power plant for Iran -- a country sitting on vast oil reserves -- amid Western worries that Tehran is using the project to develop a clandestine nuclear weapons program. Moscow's response has been contradictory and difficult to read. Some Russian ministers insist that the project will continue while President Vladimir Putin argues that Moscow is as concerned about Tehran's reported nuclear ambitions as the West. And Moscow has been pressing Tehran to open up its nuclear program sites to UN inspectors. A top Iranian official was quoted as saying Monday in Tehran that the head of the UN's nuclear watchdog Mohamed ElBaradei would be soon be invited to the Islamic republic for talks aimed at solving "technical problems" between the two sides. But there have been conflicting signals here as to whether Russia intends to halt the Bushehr project should Iran fail to relent to international pressure and allow for more intrusive inspections by UN teams. The latest reported comments from Russian officials concerning Iran seemed to defend nuclear cooperation. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Yury Fedotov said Monday he was satisfied with the level of cooperation between Iran and the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) which is tasked with onsite inspections. The June 19 IAEA summit concerning Iran "will help speed up cooperation between Iran and the IAEA and, as a result, will create a new basis for our (Russia's) cooperation" with Iran, Fedotov was quoted as saying by ITAR-TASS. Meanwhile Rumyantsev, the atomic energy minister, said Friday that the meetings would focus on Bushehr, but declined to go into specifics. Iran has appeared increasingly frustrated with the slowing pace of Russia's construction of Bushehr -- an 800-million-dollar project whose date of completion has been repeatedly pushed back by Moscow. Some see this as a indirect Russian concession to US and Israeli pressure although Moscow officials refuse to confirm speculation that it is bending to Western interests over the project. By the latest estimates, Bushehr is not scheduled to go on line until 2005 at the earliest. Russia has also failed to sign a final agreement on the return of nuclear fuel it sends to the reactor -- a prerequisite for Bushehr's formal launch. The waste could theoretically be used to help Iran develop a nuclear weapon. Return to Menu 2. Iran-Russia Nuclear Ties in Compliance With International Law, Tehran Nuclear Chief Says Iran's nuclear chief said Monday his country's cooperation with Russia on atomic energy was in compliance with international law, amid international concern about whether Tehran is trying to develop nuclear weapons. "Nuclear ties between Russia and Iran have bright horizons," Gholamreza Aghazadeh, head of Iran's atomic energy organization, said at a Moscow meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, according to Interfax news agency. The ties are "rather transparent," he added, and "developed in full compliance with international law." Aghazadeh also called Russia a "strategic and genuine friend to Iran." Russia is helping Iran build a nuclear power plant in the coastal city of Bushehr, and Moscow has insisted fears that the project could help develop nuclear weapons are unfounded. But Russia has recently pushed Tehran to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency on inspections to reassure the world of its intentions. Ahead of the talks, Deputy Foreign Minister Yuri Fedotov told ITAR-Tass news agency the recent agreement by Iran to accept inspections by the IAEA "will promote intensification of cooperation between Iran and the IAEA and therefore, additional prerequisites for our cooperation will be created." Fedotov said work between Russia and Iran in the nuclear sphere "will only gain by increasing transparency of Iran's nuclear programs." Iran has so far rejected an IAEA plea for it to sign an additional protocol to the nonproliferation treaty requiring it to accept more intrusive inspections of nuclear sites. Ivanov said Monday that Russia regards Iran as an "important partner" and was interested in expanding relations to other areas, Interfax reported. Relations between the countries "have advanced over recent years, and Russia would like to retain these dynamics," he said. Aghazadeh was also to meet Monday with Russian Nuclear Power Minister Alexander Rumyantsev, and he is to visit a nuclear power plant training center Tuesday, Interfax reported. Return to Menu 3. Moscow Confirms its Obligations Under Bushehr NPP Project Moscow has confirmed the obligations it has assumed under the Bushehr nuclear power project in Iran. Realization of the Russian-Iranian intergovernmental agreement on Russia's technical assistance in building a nuclear power plant in Bushehr was in discussion at a meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov and Iranian Vice-President Golamreza Agazade, Chairman of the Iranian Nuclear Energy Organization, said the Russian Foreign Ministry's Press and Information Department. Igor Ivanov has reaffirmed Russia's adherence to its commitments under the project in strict abidance by the clauses of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. He also said that Iran's joining the additional protocol to the agreement on guarantees with the International Atomic Energy Agency in relation with the non-proliferation treaty would be another confirmation of the peace nature of Iran's nuclear program, as well as its close cooperation with the agency. Return to Menu 4. Russia - Security-Council - Iran Nuke Co-Operation Russia attaches great significance to co-operation with Iraq in the area of peaceful nuclear energy, Russian Security Council Secretary Vladimir Rushailo said as meeting Iranian Vice-President Gholam Reza Agazadeh on Monday. "Russia proceeds from the assumption that Iran, being a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) member, is entitled to international assistance in developing peaceful energy," said Mr Rushailo. President Putin reaffirmed this position of Russia at the Evian summit of the Group of Eight on June 20, 2003, recalled Mr Rushailo. The Russian president then conditioned that Iran's all nuclear projects should be subject to the IAEA's control. "Russia hails Iran's steps towards transparency of its nuclear technology-related activities, among other things via the IAEA," he said. The Iranian vice-president, who is also chairman of the country's Atomic Energy Organisation, said on his part: "Iran has the right to possess the peaceful atom and the IAEA must help the country obtain it. Iran is set to develop peaceful nuclear energy and Russia is its most reliable partner in this area." Return to Menu 5. Russia, Iran Have Good Prospects for Cooperation in Atomic Sphere, Iranian Vice President Says Russia and Iran have good prospects for the development of cooperation in atomic sphere, Iranian Vice President Qolam Reza Aqazadeh-Khoi, the chairman of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organisation, said at the meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov. I believe we have good prospects and horizons for cooperation in atomic sphere, the Iraqi vice president stressed. Moscow-Tehran nuclear cooperation is transparent and is carried out within the framework of the existing international regulations, he added. Qolam Reza Aqazadeh-Khoi expressed hope that this cooperation will be developing for the benefit of the two nations. Russia is Iran's strategic partner and real friend, he noted. Our cooperation is developing in almost all spheres, the Iranian vice president added. On his part, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said that Moscow considers Iran an important strategic partner. "We are interested in the development of wide diverse co-operation with Iran," Ivanov stressed. According to him, Moscow is satisfied with the active development of political dialogue and cooperation in economic and other spheres between the two countries. Ivanov pointed out the recent progress in Russian-Iranian relations adding that we are interested in positive dynamics of cooperation. The minister is sure that the Iranian vice president's talks in Moscow will contribute to further development of cooperation between the two countries. Return to Menu 6. Kremlin Aide Reiterates Russia's Stance on Iran, North Korea (excerpted) Russian President Vladimir Putin and British Prime Minister Tony Blair are to discuss today nuclear issues of Iran and North Korea and also the Iraqi problem within the framework of the state visit of the Russian leader to the UK, Sergey Prikhodko, deputy head of the Kremlin administration, has told ITAR-TASS. He said that following the recent meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors "the situation surrounding Iran is becoming less acute, though there still are attempts to aggravate the situation". "The results of the IAEA meeting are crucial to Russia. The IAEA is an international mechanism for resolving debatable issues in relation to Iran," Prikhodko said. The [Russian] president has warned more than once "against using the nuclear issue in order to start unhealthy competition on the Iranian market". Speaking about the nuclear problem of North Korea, Prikhodko said that "there is no such mechanism for North Korea as the IAEA's control in relation to Iran". "However, our approach to the North Korean issue should be as responsible," he added. The Kremlin draws attention to Putin's statement that the problem "should be settled by way of talks, taking into account interests and concerns of North Korea". [�] Return to Menu 7. Moscow, London Agree Iran Must be Urged to be More Co-Operative Towards IAEA Moscow and London agree that Iran should be urged to be more co-operative towards the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Russian President Vladimir Putin told a news conference in London following talks with British Prime Minister Tony Blair. The president said he had updated the British premier on the scope of Russia-Iran co-operation. A major emphasis of talks was traditionally placed on global developments, the situation in Iraq and the Middle East, above all, said the president. President Putin said they both had given a positive assessment of the plan of Mideastern settlement known as the roadmap. Moscow and London gave similar assessments of what is going on in Afghanistan, said the president. Among other issues that dominated the meeting agenda was the situation on the Korean peninsula, and Russia's relations with the European Union and NATO, according to the president. Return to Menu 8. Russia Says IAEA Meeting Solves US Worries Over Iran Russia said on Thursday a June meeting of U.N. nuclear officials had cleared up international concerns over its nuclear cooperation with Iran and denied there were disagreements over the issue with the United States. Russia is helping Iran build its first nuclear power station. U.S. officials have criticised the project and accused Tehran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons. "After the IAEA board of governors meeting on June 16, this theme is no longer topical," Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenko told reporters. "But I will again say that if anyone has any concerns we are prepared to continue dialogue. We have an open, transparent position." The IAEA's board of governors last week criticised Iran's failure to comply with agreements designed to prevent the use of civilian nuclear resources to make weapons. But its statement fell short of the damning resolution Washington had hoped for. "We support the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and all our cooperation with Iran abides by our international obligations," Yakovenko said. "So there can be no disagreements with the U.S. or other countries when discussing Iran." The reactor, in the southwestern port of Bushehr, is to be completed later this year, with the plant due to come on stream next year. Iran insists its nuclear energy programme is designed to produce electricity only. Return to Menu 9. Russian FM Spokesman: Iran, Russia Enjoy Transparent Cooperation Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Alexander Yakovenko here on Thursday, underlining the transparency of the mutualcooperation between Iran and Russia, declared Moscow's readiness to negotiate the issue with any country. Speaking to reporters, he added that once Iran's nuclear program was examined by the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which is the highest-ranking IAEA body, the urgency of the issue was eliminated. "Despite the positive outcome of the latest assessment, we are prepared to undergo further survey under a fully transparent atmosphere by any country still worried by such issues, including the United States," he noted. Yakovenko said that Moscow finds no obstacle for its cooperation with Iran and declared Russia's readiness to discuss the matter with other states. Asked on Russia's outlook on Afghanistan, he said that the situation, specially production of narcotics, is very complicated. He pointed out that transfer of drugs from Afghanistan to Russia via Central Asian states is a serious threat to Russia's security. Turning to the crisis in Iraq, he noted, "The discovery of any weapons of mass destruction in the country, as claimed by the occupying forces, should be verified by the UN inspectors." Referring to the attempts taken towards restoring the rights of Russian enterprises represented in the pre-war Iraq, he stressed the need for establishment of an interim government to provide the conditions for formation of a legal rule in the country. The Russian official welcomed the agreement on cooperation between India and China and hoped that signing of such a contract by two of Russia's biggest neighboring states will contribute to expansion of trilateral ties. Meanwhile, a Russian official from Atom Stroy Export here on Thursday, told the Russian Interfax News Agency that the normal construction process of the first unit of Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant is currently underway. A meeting held in Tehran to make the necessary coordination on the issue, was attended by the representatives of the Russian Atom Stroy Export and Ministry of Atomic Energy as well as Iran's Atomic Energy Organization. Referring to the inspection by Russian and Iranian experts of Bushehr power plant on Wednesday, the Russian official said that the construction operations of the first phase of the project worth dlrs 800 million is currently underway. "One of the main issues currently on the agenda is to sign an amendment to the agreement on Iran's return of the used fuel of the power plant to Russia," he added. According to him, the document has been through full legal process and merely needs to be assessed by Russia's Ministry of Natural Resources. He reiterated that absence of such a document will interfere with providing atomic fuel for Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant. The readiness of Iran to sign the amendment was declared by Iran's Ambassador to Moscow, Gholam-Reza Shafei, a while ago. Return to Menu E. Russia-North Korea 1. Moscow Ready to Take Part in Talks on North Korea's Nuclear Problem Within Expanded Framework If the framework of the talks on the North Korean problem is expanded, "Russia will be bound to participate", Alexander Yakovenko, official spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, announced at a press conference in RIA Novosti on Thursday. Traditionally, Russia "plays an active role in the Korean Peninsula it neighbours on," however it will depend on the situation, whether Russia will partake in the talks, Yakovenko pointed out. The spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry stressed that Russia adhered to the principle of the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. Return to Menu 2. Russia's Lost Korean Opportunity Despite having been put on the sidelines over Pyongyang's nuclear issue, Russia is still keen to demonstrate that it has sufficient influence to help ease tensions over North Korea and its nuclear ambitions. Russia is ready to host "any meetings and talks, to help in any form so as to normalize the situation" around North Korea, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated in a British Broadcasting Corp interview on Sunday. "It is very sensitive issue for Russia due to proximity to Russian border," he said. However, the Russia leader argued that Pyongyang was unlikely to draft any aggressive plans. "North Korea is now in such a state that I do not have any reasons to believe that this country has any aggressive intentions." Addressing an annual press conference last Friday, Putin also urged providing Pyongyang with guarantees of "non-aggression". He also said all interested parties, including South Korea, Japan, China, the United States and Russia, should take part in solving the controversy over Pyongyang's nuclear program. In a small but symbolic development, on Tuesday construction of a Russian Orthodox church started in downtown Pyongyang. Russia's ambassador to North Korea, Andrei Karlov, reportedly commented that a return of the Russian Orthodox faith to that country was of "great importance for developing relations between Russian and [North Korea]". Reportedly, the idea to build an Orthodox church in Pyongyang occurred to North Korean leader Kim Jong-il during his rail trip to Russia in 2001. Moreover, it has been reported that last month Kim sent a letter to Putin seeking his help in breaking the stalemate in the talks with the United States over the nuclear crisis. Putin, who is keen to boost Russia's profile in East Asia, has sought a greater role in trying to resolve the dispute on the Korean Peninsula. When he and Chinese President Hu Jintao met in Moscow on May 27, they declared that the use of force to resolve Washington's standoff with North Korea would be "unacceptable". With a backdrop of Moscow's once-close ties with Pyongyang, supportive pronouncements by Putin may have raised hopes that Russia was about to use its much-heralded leverage power with North Korea. Russia was clearly sidelined when North Korea, the United States and China held talks on the nuclear crisis in Beijing in April. Washington has reportedly declined Pyongyang's offer of compromise in exchange for guarantees of its survival, as well as economic help. China has been demanding that no nuclear weapons should exist on the Korean Peninsula. Subsequently, no apparent progress was made. Russia's absence from the April talks has been explained as a consequence of Moscow's flawed mediation attempts. In January, Putin sent a special envoy, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov, to China, North Korea and the United States in an effort to defuse international concerns over Pyongyang's nuclear threats. However, Losyukov's planned US trip failed to materialize, indicating that Russian mediation services were not needed in Washington. Subsequently, even Russian media started questioning the Kremlin's ability to deal with Pyongyang. This month, the influential Kommersant daily commented that "Washington was pushing Russia out of the Korean Peninsula", as Russia was unlikely to join multilateral talks on North Korea in July or August. The daily also commented that Moscow had made a mistake when Losyukov unsuccessfully tried to become a mediator between Washington and Pyongyang. According to Kommersant, Russia's talk about multilateral security guarantees merely sent a wrong signal to Pyongyang and then North Koreans intensified their nuclear blackmail. In the wake of Losyukov's failure, Russia lost its say in Korean affairs, the daily wrote. Despite organizing two rail trips for Kim, Russia has no way to influence Pyongyang, Kommersant wrote. Not surprisingly, Losyukov strongly dismissed these claims. "No issues relative to North Korean can be solved without Russia, it is obvious," Losyukov told journalists in Moscow. "Only those who do not know anything about the process of Korean settlement and Russia's role can claim that Russia is being pushed out of this process," Losyukov stated. "Russia is taking an active part in this process by maintaining dialogue with North Korean leadership," he added without revealing any concrete details. Losyukov stated that the crisis over North Korea's resumption of its nuclear program is primarily a dispute between North Korea and the United States. He conceded that the situation around North Korea has been deteriorating mainly because of the continued lack of consensus between Washington and Pyongyang. Losyukov also stated that Moscow backed the trilateral format of talks among the US, North Korea and China. Therefore, the Kremlin pledged to host talks to normalize the situation around North Korea. However, Moscow declined to back a similar offer by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to host direct talks between the US and North Korean representatives. "This initiative will not be developed," Losyukov stated on June 11. The Soviet Union was a close ally of reclusive North Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War, which resulted in the division of the peninsula between the communist North and the US-backed South. Yet relations between Moscow and Pyongyang have been less cordial since the 1991 collapse of Soviet rule and Russia's turbulent transition to the market economy. Russia, North Korea's neighbor thanks to a narrow land border near Vladivostok, has sharply downgraded its ties with that country in the past decade. In turn, there has been a corresponding increase in Russian trade links with South Korea, which is still technically at war with North Korea. Moscow and Pyongyang have signed a new bilateral treaty to replace an obsolete Soviet-era accord in place since 1961. However, bilateral annual trade turnover has been below US$100 million for the past few years. The decline has been blamed mainly on North Korea's economic crisis and its unpaid debts to Russia. It has been argued that Russia's failure to join talks on North Korea next month or in August may well spark a new wave of realism in Moscow, after the initial enthusiasm prompted by the world's expectation that Russia could play a major role in defusing the crisis subsided. After all, Beijing has greater potential to influence Pyongyang, China having long ago displaced Russia as North Korea's main trade partner and interlocutor. Russia has another good reason to rethink its proactive approach to North Korea. The last time Russia tried its hand at negotiating a strategic agreement with Kim Jong-il, in 2000, it turned into a fiasco. First, it was announced in Moscow that North Korea had agreed to give up its ballistic-rocket program in exchange for Russia's launching of civilian satellites into space. And then it turned out that it was a joke by Kim. Hence circumstantial evidence arguably indicates that Russia does not really have a firm grip on the degree of its ability to influence North Korea. Return to Menu F. Missile Defense 1. Russia-US Cooperation on Missile Defense is Difficult, But Possible The path to real joint projects lies through stimulation and facilitation of direct contracts between Russian and American or European companies, rather than political declarations. Cooperation needs to overcome various organizational, bureaucratic, cultural and political barriers. The interest in cooperation in the sphere of missile defense is explicable. This topic has always been popular in Russia, where it's thought that the standard of Russian (and, actually, Soviet) research in this field is high enough to offer real competition to US researchers. Indeed, the only strategic missile defense system now in existence is deployed around Moscow, and Russia has some substantial projects in the non-strategic field. It is no wonder that many in Russia believe that teamwork with the US could once again demonstrate Russia's ability to produce advanced hardware of the highest class. From the political point of view, this sphere of cooperation is beyond compare. Differences related to the role of the missile defense and the ABM Treaty had been the focus of Russia-US dialog for many years, and America's withdrawal from the treaty drew a sensitive response both in Russia and in the US. Teamwork would be the best way to prove that reciprocal relations have changed. To all appearances, both Moscow and Washington are coming to understand this, which explains the level of interest in this issue. However, in order to reap the political rewards of this cooperation, political declarations of intentions are insufficient unless they are implemented in the "specific joint projects" which the two presidents recently discussed in St. Petersburg. And here Russia and the US will inevitably run up against the problem that the attention of politicians usually proves a serious obstacle to cooperation, rather than helping it. The history of Russia-US relations has a few very serious joint projects, their funding fluctuating between tens and hundreds of millions of dollars annually. The transaction of selling depleted uranium to the US has been the biggest deal of that kind. The joint threat reduction program, within the framework of which the US has been aiding Russia to eliminate the strategic arms reduced. However, cooperation in the creation of the ISS seems to be the only successful, actually high-end program realized now. It is also significant that, although Russia is independently financing its participation in the project, the contracts obtained in the preparations of the ISS for its launch have brought serious benefits to the space industry of Russia. Cooperation in the sphere of missile defense seems to be optimistic, but a closer look shows: these projects are more likely to be successful due to serious concern of all ministries and departments involved in this process, which proved to be ready to maintain their projects at all levels, rather than the political support. The fate of the Russia-US Joint Data Exchange Center shows what happens when the parties have no concern for it. The Russian and US presidents signed an agreement on the creation of the center as far back as 2000. The intention to open the center was confirmed in 2001. However, no progress was attained in this cause, formally due to the unsettled tax matters. In fact, however, it seems that nobody is interested in the work of this center, neither in Russia, nor in the US. The presidents' commissions haven't go beyond wishes. RAMOS program, which envisages joint work of one Russian and one US satellite, is another example. Following years of uncertainty and balancing on the verge of being closed down, the program has finally obtained sure financial sources, but this way could be much shorter if the immediate participants didn't have to deal with the additional "bureaucratic structure." In the US, this program was given under control of the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), which proved to be poorly prepared and didn't actually show its serious concern for the program. Quite possibly, fixed attention on the part of politicians to the RAMOS program would be appropriate. Moreover, the program is a quite real and, as of now, the only example of Russia-US cooperation in the sphere of missile defense: the satellites to be created will be practicing the technology of detecting launches of ballistic missiles. At the same time, any politically significant project is becoming a target for various kinds of coordination and terms. This is what has occurred with, for instance, the ISS after the US Congress had linked any contracts with Russia within the framework of this project to fulfillment a series of terms, related to Russia-Iran cooperation. Such terms can actually ruin even the most promising joint project. To succeed in the joint work, participants in the project must have an interest in it and have a wish to overcome various organizational, bureaucratic, cultural and political barriers. Any similar terms are out of the sphere of the missile defense. The organization, which is supposed to be in charge of this work in the US, has shown its inadequacy for this role. In Russia, no organization, which could be made responsible for implementation of the joint work, is evident either. However, vulnerability of these plans to diverse political pressure is the main obstacle. All of the preceding doesn't actually mean that Russia-US cooperation in the sphere of missile defense is impossible, in theory. On the contrary. However, the path to real joint projects involves promoting and facilitating direct contracts between Russian and American (or European) companies, rather than political declarations. Plenty of successful projects exist, for instance the Sea Launch project or a project of delivering Russian-made rocket engines for the US carrier rockets Atlas. The latter is noteworthy, since it will be the first time when Russian-made equipment will be used in a US military program - it is planned to use Atlas carrier rockets to place military satellites into orbit. This instance shows that Russia and the US have already entered into a new kind of relationship and it would be better to enable Russian companies to use the new opportunities, rather than confirming this in a president's address. If Russian missile system researchers are given the opportunity to work independently, "specific joint projects in the sphere of missile defense" will undoubtedly appear, without waiting for a president's announcements. (Translated by Andrei Ryabochkin) Return to Menu G. Nuclear Industry 1. IOAE Supports Creation of Nuclear Laboratory in Havana A regional training center in Nuclear Physics that will benefit different countries in Latin America DR. Ana Mar�a Cetto, general director of the International Organization for Atomic Energy (IOAE) announced the institution�s support for the construction in Havana of a regional nuclear physics training center based on Microtron MT-25, work on which began in Quinta de los Molinos in the center of the Cuban capital. "In the next two years, we hope to receive a request from the Cuban government for the project to be analyzed and we will consider that in the period stated it will begin with OIAE support for training as well as the participation of other organizations such as UNESCO," she added, demonstrating a brochure with the details. In parallel with the training of personnel from the region and Cuba, the laboratory�s activities will contribute to studies in the fields of the environment, agriculture, public health, industry and other economic fields. The MT-25 Microtron is a multi-purpose accelerator that can be used in a wide range of experiments. One of its many uses is as a substance irradiator to obtain isotopes. There are currently 20 projects in Cuba related to fundamental or applied research using the Microtron and these are also available to specialists throughout Latin America. The accelerator was constructed in 1991 with the participation of Cuban experts at the nuclear research institute in Dubna as part of a million-dollar donation from the Ministry for Science, Technology and the Environment to the Higher Institute for Nuclear Science and Technology. For its part, this latter institution will make the laboratory available to Latin American countries expressing interest in the project. It will also receive the cooperation of Russian experts in the laboratory�s establishment and functioning. Return to Menu H. Official Statements 1. Edited Transcript of a Press Conference by the Prime Minister and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Durbar Court (excerpted) [...] President Putin: A particular part of our talk concerned foreign policy problems. We exchanged views and visions about the situation in Iraq. We were talking about our cooperation in other regions in the world: in the Middle East, we are united in our understanding of the importance of a practical implementation of the provisions set forth in the roadmap and the setting up of the appropriate mechanism of monitoring. We have touched upon the Iran subject. I informed the Prime Minister about the skill of the Russian-Iranian cooperation. We were united in the need to further encourage Tehran's cooperation with IEA (sic). We have similar assessments of the situation in Afghanistan and the prospects of its reestablishment. Among other subjects were - and I would like to confirm - the Southeast subject, the Korean peninsula, the relations of Russia, and the EU and NATO. [...] Return to Menu 2. UK Launches Major Work With Russia to Prevent Proliferation of WMD The Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and Igor Ivanov, the Russian Foreign Minister, will today sign a landmark agreement that enables the UK to start spending �30m tackling Russia�s nuclear Cold War legacy. This is a vital part of the G8 Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction, and a key component of the UK�s wider counter-proliferation strategy. Projects can begin immediately to dismantle decommissioned nuclear submarines and safely store tonnes of spent nuclear fuel, a total commitment of up to �20m. The UK is also committing �10m to the Northern Dimension Environmental Programme. Managed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, this Programme will include several major projects to deal with spent nuclear fuel and other nuclear waste, all of which will complement the UK�s bilateral activities. Later today the UK will join the Arctic Military Environmental Co-operation (AMEC) programme which includes practical work on dismantling submarines. It will be signed by the UK�s Parliamentary Under Secretary for Defence, Ivor Caplin onboard the Russian Frigate Neustrashimiy, currently moored at Greenwich, London, for the State Visit. Jack Straw said: �Tackling WMD proliferation is one of this Government�s highest priorities. Our co-operation with Russia on dealing with its nuclear legacy is a crucial part of this � and I�m delighted that during this State Visit we have been able to sign an agreement that enables many new UK projects to begin.� The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry Patricia Hewitt said: �Dismantling nuclear submarines and making safe spent nuclear fuel are among Russia�s highest priorities in dealing with the legacy of the Cold War. This is difficult, complicated work in which the UK can offer real experience and assistance. Not only does this project offer proliferation and environmental benefits, it is also presents future business opportunities for UK companies with nuclear clean-up expertise.� The Parliamentary Under Secretary for Defence Ivor Caplin said: �The Ministry of Defence welcomes this opportunity to join AMEC and work with our partners in Norway, Russia and the United States on nuclear clean-up projects. This complements the work we are already doing in helping Russia to destroy its stock of chemical weapons, to which we have committed up to $100m over the period of the Global Partnership.� Funding for this important work comes from the UK�s commitment to the G8 Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction. The Prime Minister announced in 2002 that the UK would commit up to $750m over ten years to the Global Partnership. The nuclear projects announced today form a substantial part of this pledge. Return to Menu I. Links of Interest 1. Commentary on President Vladimir Putin�s state visit to the UK 24 � 27, June 2003 Return to Menu 2. Responsibilities of Freedom Return to Menu 3. Russia's Nuclear and Missile Technology Assistance to Iran Return to Menu DISCLAIMER: Nuclear News is presented for informational purposes only. Views presented in any given article are those of the individual author or source and not of RANSAC. RANSAC takes no responsibility for the technical accuracy of information contained in any article presented in Nuclear News. RANSAC's Nuclear News is compiled two to three times weekly. To be automatically removed from our mailing list, click on the following link: Remove Me From The List If you have questions/comments/concerns, please reply to news@216.119.87.134 |
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