The Hindu : Call to lift n-curbs

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 12, 2003

International

International - India & World

Call to lift n-curbs

By Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW NOV.11. The Russian nuclear establishment has called for lifting international restrictions on nuclear technology transfer to India.

"It is high time to review the ban on nuclear technology cooperation with India which was imposed by the Nuclear Suppliers Group in 1992," the Russian Atomic Energy Ministry said at the start of the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee's visit to Russia. India wants Russia to set up four more light-water nuclear reactors of the type that are now being built at Koodankulam. However, "Russia cannot do it (supply additional reactors) until the NSG has withdrawn its restrictions," a spokesman for the Atomic Energy Ministry said.

The National Security Adviser, Brajesh Mishra, who arrived in Moscow on Saturday, met the Atomic Energy Minister, Alexander Rumyantsev, today to discuss the problem ahead of Mr. Vajpayee's talks with the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, on Wednesday.

The first group of top managers and engineers from the Koodankulam nuclear power station has completed training at the Russian Novovoronezh nuclear plant, which uses the same type of VVER-1000 reactors that Russia is erecting at Koodankulam. A total of 150 Indian nuclear engineers will undergo training in Russia.

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