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Iran Press: Head of Russian Federal Atomic Energy Agency Interviewed

Posted on: Friday, 29 July 2005, 15:00 CDT

Text of unattributed report on ISNA interview with Dr Aleksandr Rumyantsev, head of Russia's Federal Atomic Energy Agency; place, date not given: "Expanding the relations Between Iran and Russia" by Iranian newspaper Siyasat-e Ruz on 23 July

Admitting that legally Iran has the right to create a nuclear fuel cycle, the head of the Russian Federal Atomic Energy Agency opined that such facilities are not economical for our country.

Speaking in an interview with the Iranian Student News Agency [ISNA] in connection with the potential that exist in cooperation between Tehran and Moscow in various arenas, Dr Alexander Rumyantsev the head of the Russian Federal Atomic Energy Agency added: "I am an expert in the field of atomic energy, a researcher, the head of the Russian Federal Atomic Energy Agency, and my job is to create actual systems, but as the head of the Joint Commission for Cooperation between Russia and Iran, I believe that undoubtedly Russia and Iran are extremely interested in expanding their cooperation."

Rumyantsev continued: "The extraction of oil and gas, transportation, expansion of the railway network and Iran's satellite communications systems, are among the areas of our active cooperation, for which Russia possesses competence and resources, while these affairs are extremely economically profitable for both Russia and Iran."

In continuation, the head of the Russian Federal Atomic Energy Agency stressed: "The construction of an atomic power plant in Iran is definitely profitable for Russia. The development of atomic energy means that this country can save its oil and gas. Iran can sell these profitable resources, which are highly in demand today and increase its standard of living".

He continued: "on the other hand, it is very important for Iranians to be able to protect their oil and gas fields and not use them to produce electricity, rather maintain and safeguard their irreplaceable resources for their future generations. Russia itself is one of the biggest oil and gas producers; however, we are ready to purchase Iran's natural resources so that reserved natural fuels would not be depleted."

Stating that commercial trade between Russia and Iran has increased twofold over the past few years, Rumyantsev remarked: "We are also willing to purchase the output of Iranian light industry and handicrafts, such as carpets. We are interested in coexistence with Iran, in keeping with the longstanding tradition of being neighbouring countries, peace and friendship, while we cooperate in accordance with mutual economic profit."

Referring to the fact that his country's annual commercial trade with Iran is in excess of two billion dollars, the head of the Russian Federal Atomic Energy Agency pointed out: "This includes the share of atomic cooperation, which includes eight years of construction at the Bushehr power plant station, which amounts to approximately $1 billion. I think that our resources permit us to significantly increase the level of our commercial trade with Iran, and of course the current level of trade could reach tens of billions of dollars."

In response to a question posed by ISNA as to whether the discussion of European countries providing aid to our country to construct nuclear power plants in talks with the three European countries would create a climate of rivalry between Russia and these countries, he said: "Russia does not fear competition from European countries, which want to participate in implementing the massive plan for the construction of atomic power plant in Iran."

Stressing that competition is a good thing and serves as a motor engine for advancement and progress, Rumyantsev added: "Competition has always accompanied trade. In Iran a huge potential market exists for the construction of atomic power plants and if we were to look at this market from the perspective of this country's approved plan stipulating the construction of 20 atomic power plants, I must say that Iran has sufficient work for all countries that have power plant construction know how."

In continuation, the head of the Russian Federal Atomic Energy Agency remarked: "Even if they were to offer the construction of all power plants only to us tomorrow, we would not accept such a huge project, because the capacity of our industries is not at all adequate for simultaneous construction of 20 power plants in Iran, and this means that countries such as France, Britain, and Japan, or others that have the ability to construct power plants would enter the scene, therefore, our approach to the issue of competition in the Iranian market is a calm one, while there are other large markets in the world, such as India and China."

In continuation, referring to the fact that the United States always criticizes Russia for its cooperation with Iran, he continued: "America constantly warns us that Iran is creating its own national fuel cycle, which it can use for dual purposes."

Stressing that legally our country has the right to create a nuclear fuel cycle, Rumyantsev said: "Russia cautions Iran that its action (completion of the nuclear fuel cycle) is not economical. In the nuclear arena the concept of huge industrial production lies in three phases of nuclear fuel cycle."

In continuation, the head of Russia's Federal Atomic Energy Agency remarked: "These three phases include: the extraction of uranium, its enrichment, and the production of fuel and its transfer to the atomic power plant's nuclear reactor. This means the function of fuel throughout the functioning of the power plant, the extraction of nuclear fuel, its release from within the power plant for storage, production, and disposal of nuclear waste material. Putting into operation this entire cycle requires huge industries that employ 337,000 people in Russia alone." Referring to the recent international conference sponsored by the International Atomic Energy Agency held in Moscow called "The Multifaceted Technical and Organizational Approaches Concerning the Nuclear Fuel Cycle to Strengthen the NPT Regime", he pointed out: "The aim of this conference was to codify various approaches concerning the issue of nuclear fuel and our aim is for Iran and other countries, which, on the one hand, seek to develop atomic energy, and on the other hand, avoid creating a nuclear fuel cycle, would obtain direct nuclear privileges from countries that have for some time enjoyed nuclear technology and enormous experience in exploiting atomic energy."

Likewise, in relation to mutual cooperation between Tehran and Moscow in various arenas, including peaceful nuclear activities, Rumyantsev said: "As I mentioned earlier, the capacity for cooperation with Iran is enormous and profound. In regard to cooperation in the atomic arena, I have to say that we are implementing this cooperation within the framework of current international laws, and without violating international community and IAEA regulations."

Likewise, the head of the Russian Federal Atomic Energy Agency said: "Iran is a signatory to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and the Additional Protocol with the International Atomic Energy Agency, while it has not taken any significant step to develop sensitive and multifunctional technologies and all these can prove to everyone that this country has the right to engage in this work."

Likewise, by stating that the International Atomic Energy Agency is supervising all Iranian nuclear activities using enormous expertise, he said: "Meanwhile, in turn, Iran is also displaying an extremely serious sincerity and openness."

In conclusion, Rumyantsev called the issuance of permission for IAEA inspectors to carry out inspection in our country as a sign of Iran's sincerity and good will."

Source: BBC Monitoring Middle East

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