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Russia may build new nuclear power plant in Iran

“The construction of Bushehr NPP demonstrated that Russia is a responsible partner that finds ways to lift concerns of our partners,” Ryabkov said

UNITED NATIONS, September 23 (Itar-Tass) —— Russia may build another nuclear power plant in Iran following the startup of the Bushehr facility, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told reporters on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Thursday.

He said “the construction of Bushehr NPP demonstrated that Russia is a responsible partner that finds ways to lift concerns of our partners.”

“Bushehr is a model sample of the development of nuclear power engineering with hundred-percent guaranteed compliance with non-proliferation tasks,” Ryabkov said.

“We can and should cooperate in the sphere within the parameters stipulated by the UN Security Council. I rule out options when anyone besides the UN Security Council can limit or negatively influence corresponding work,” Ryabkov said and recalled UN resolutions do not ban the development of peaceful nuclear power engineering.

“The essence of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in which both Russia and Iran participate is to ensure progress along three guidelines: nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation, and peaceful use of nuclear energy,” he said.

“By implementing the NPP project in Bushehr we demonstrated that we are reliable partners in the sphere and can find the schemes which do not add concern to other members of the international community about what Russia and Iran are doing in the sphere, but on the contrary ease the concerns,” the deputy minister said.

As for concerns regarding Iranian nuclear bomb plans, Ryabkov admitted there has been no breakthrough in the issue but dialogue continues and Iran displays interest in it.

“There is no final solution of the problem, no breakthrough so far,” said Ryabkov who participated in a meeting of six major powers on Iran. “However the dialogue goes on and Iranians display interest in discussing the Russian plan. The next step should be agreed date of the meeting of the six powers with Iran,” he said.

Also on Thursday Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told reporters his country was ready to stop 20-percent uranium enrichment if guarantees of nuclear fuel supplies are provided. But Iran will anyway continue the construction of new nuclear power plants, he added.