MOSCOW, August 4. /TASS/. Russian State Duma Speaker Sergey Naryshkin has accused Ukrainian authorities of criminal thoughtlessness over their refusal to cooperate with Russia in the nuclear sphere.
"Current Kiev authorities are hampering cooperation between Ukraine and Russia in many spheres with support and connivance of their Western partners. Atomic energy fell victim to this as well, which already leads to using non-authorized fuel at power units of Ukrainian plants, violating technological requirements, paying less attention to preventive works," Naryshkin said at a session at the Rosatom state atomic energy corporation devoted to the anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear bombings.
Such approach is an example of thoughtlessness, "maybe even criminal thoughtlessness in the nuclear sphere," he noted. The Duma speaker said he is concerned about the situation at Ukrainian nuclear power plants. "This is a threat of a pan-European scale," he stressed.
- Ukraine transfers money for return of spent nuclear fuel to Russia — source
- Ukraine’s Energoatom seeks to restart Russian nuclear fuel deliveries
- Lawmaker concerned over lack of reaction to issue of ensuring nuclear security in Ukraine
- Ukraine lacks 75 mln euro to complete construction of shelter at Chernobyl nuclear plant
- Ukrainian environmentalists call to abandon use of nuclear plants
"I will add that legislative control over the nuclear sphere was and remains the priority of the State Duma," Naryshkin continued. Over the last several years, the Duma introduced new important amendments to existing legislature in the sphere of atomic energy. "In particular, deputies wanted to boost ecological and counter-terrorist security of such facilities, strengthen the role of expertise when using them. That is what modern policy in this sphere should be like - consistent and responsible," he added.
On April 15, the State Duma adopted a statement "On 30th anniversary of Chernobyl tragedy and ensuring nuclear security in Europe at current stage." The statement said that a new nuclear threat has emerged for the whole of Europe over the situation in Ukraine and urges the Ukrainian authorities and EU parliaments to comply with international commitments in nuclear safety and take all measures to prevent the threat of accidents at Ukrainian nuclear power plants.
The document said that "nuclear safety in Ukraine and in Europe as a whole has deteriorated in recent years due to the irresponsible position of the Ukrainian leadership, which has rejected cooperation with Russia.".