US, Russia to pursue civilian nuclear pact

WASHINGTON - The United States is initiating talks with Russia aimed at reaching an agreement on civilian nuclear energy co-operation, the White House said today.

"Such an agreement would benefit both the United States and Russia and indeed the world by enabling advances in and greater use of nuclear energy," said White House spokesman Peter Watkins.

Earlier today the Washington Post reported President George W Bush will allow extensive US civilian nuclear cooperation with Russia in a reversal of decades of bipartisan policy. The Post said the move could be worth billions of dollars to Russia but possibly stir an uproar in the US Congress.

The White House provided no specifics about the scope of co-operation being considered in the talks.

The Post said a deal would clear the way for Russia to import and store thousands of tonnes of spent nuclear fuel from US-supplied reactors around the world.

The newspaper, quoting administration officials, said the decision would be announced at Bush's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin next Saturday before the annual summit of the Group of Eight industrialized nations.

Bush has resisted such extensive nuclear cooperation for years, insisting Russia first stop building a nuclear power station for Iran, the Post reported.

But US officials have changed their view of Russia's collaboration with Iran and have concluded Putin has become a more constructive partner in trying to pressure Iran to give up any move for nuclear weapons, the paper said.

The Post added the deal could be used as an incentive to gain more Russian cooperation on Iran.

"Our policy on assistance to Iran's nuclear programme has not changed," Watkins said. "We've made clear to Russia that for agreement on peaceful cooperation to go forward we will need Russia's active cooperation in blocking Iran's attempts to obtain nuclear weapons."

Watkins added that recognition of the need to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons was acknowledged in an incentives package offered to Iran by six powers -- the United States, Russia, Britain, France, China and Germany.

The package is aimed at trying to get Iran to halt uranium enrichment and answer questions about its nuclear programme.

"Russia and the United States are in agreement that Iran should not have nuclear weapons and this view is reflected today as we press for Iran's prompt response to the international community's proposal," Watkins said.

- REUTERS