Russia sees progress in peaceful atom cooperation with India
MOSCOW. July 14 (Interfax) - Russia is satisfied with its nuclear energy cooperation with India and is ready to develop relations in this area, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said.
"We hope for further expansion of relations in this sphere in accordance with the Russian laws and with both parties strictly abiding by their international obligations," Lukashevich said in a statement posted on the ministry's website on Thursday.
The plenary session of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), held in Noordwijk on June 20-24, marked the launch of substantive discussions on how to get New Delhi involved in the nuclear export control regime.
"We have repeatedly raised the issue of establishing regular contacts between the NSG and India and creating a mechanism allowing New Delhi to take part in developing nuclear exports control regulations," Lukashevich said, adding that in Noordwijk Moscow reaffirmed its commitment to India's full membership in the NSG.
The decision to increase control over "sensitive" nuclear exports, made by the NSG in 2011, does not affect the Group's decision to unfreeze peaceful nuclear cooperation with India, he said.
"We see the Russian-Indian cooperation in peaceful atoms as an important bearing element of the bilateral strategic partnership," Lukashevich said.
All agreements required for that are reflected in the Russian-Indian intergovernmental agreement dated March 12, 2010, regarding cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, he added.
"This is also emphasized in a joint statement made by our countries' leaders in December 2010. We are ready to continue their efficient implementation," Lukashevich said.