U.S. Deeply Regrets Russian Shipment of Uranium Fuel to India

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
February 16, 2001

Statement by Philip T. Reeker, deputy spokesman

RUSSIAN SHIPMENT OF LOW ENRICHED URANIUM FUEL TO INDIA

We deeply regret that the Russian Federation has shipped nuclear fuel
to the Tarapur power reactors in India in violation of Russia's
nonproliferation commitments.

As a member of the 39 nation Nuclear Suppliers Group, Russia is
committed not to engage in nuclear cooperation with any country that
does not have comprehensive International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
safeguards on all its nuclear facilities. Although India's Tarapur
reactors are under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards,
India does not have such safeguards on all of its facilities and is
indeed pursuing a nuclear weapons program.

At a December 2000 meeting of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the
overwhelming majority of the members expressed their strong concerns
about Russia's planned shipment of nuclear fuel to India, which they
regarded as inconsistent with Russia's commitments.

We join other nuclear suppliers in calling on Russia to cancel this
supply arrangement and live up to its nonproliferation obligations.

Russia's disregard of its Nuclear Supplier Group commitments, together
with its sensitive nuclear assistance to Iran, raises serious
questions about Russia's support for the goal of preventing nuclear
proliferation.

Russia's provision of sensitive technologies to other countries will
be an important item on the U.S.-Russian agenda of the Bush
Administration.