Joint Statement by the Prime Minister of the Republic of India and
the President of the Russia Federation on Cooperation in the field
of peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy
(New Delhi; January 25, 2007)
India and Russia, reaffirm the
importance of their strategic partnership which serves their national interests,
strengthens bilateral relations and contributes to international peace and
security and highlight the importance of mutually beneficial cooperation and
shared objectives in the field of nuclear energy.
India and Russia, as states possessing advanced nuclear technologies, recognize
that nuclear energy provides a safe, environmental friendly and sustainable
source of energy. They underline the need to further develop international
cooperation in promoting the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes in
accordance with their respective international commitments and national
legislations. They believe that nuclear energy will provide an indispensable
source of energy to future generations.
India and Russia as responsible
states share an objective of ensuring non-proliferation of weapons of mass
destruction and their means of delivery including possible linkages with
terrorism.
India and Russia resolve to further emphasize their willingness to expand and
strengthen their scientific and other exchanges and bilateral dialogue on
peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
India and Russia note with satisfaction their ongoing cooperation in
construction of nuclear power plants at Kudankulam. India and Russia reaffirm
their commitment to work together to expand civil nuclear energy cooperation,
with a special emphasis on nuclear power generation aimed at enabling India to
realize its goals of promoting nuclear power and achieving energy security in a
self sustaining manner.
With the objective to implement
these intentions, an agreement between the Government of the Republic of India
and the Government of the Russian Federation will be signed on cooperation in
the construction of 4 additional power units at Kudankulam. (This understanding
was reflected in the Memorandum of Intent dated 25.01.2007.)
India undertakes that the reactor facilities and nuclear fuel supplied by Russia
shall remain under the IAEA safeguards during the entire period of their actual
use in accordance with the agreement on safeguards, which shall be concluded
between the Republic of India and the IAEA. It will also inter alia take into
account measures relating to physical protection and other issues as may be
mutually agreed.
Russia will continue to work with
the Participating Governments of NSG in order to create conditions through
amendment to its guidelines to facilitate expansion of civilian nuclear energy
cooperation with India.
India and Russia recognize the importance of R&D for development of innovative
technologies which reduce the risk of nuclear proliferation to further
facilitate the wide scale development of nuclear energy. International project
for nuclear reactors and fuel cycles (INPRO) which is being implemented under
the aegis of IAEA with the participation of India and Russia is an example of
productive international cooperation.
India and Russia express their
willingness to further expand and strengthen their bilateral civilian nuclear
energy cooperation by broadbasing cooperation covering both power (fission and
fusion energy) and non-power applications in areas of mutual interest to be
identified by both sides.
The Department of Atomic Energy, India and the Federal Atomic Energy Agency, the
Russian Federation will work out in 2007 a comprehensive programme of
cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of atomic energy between India and
Russia.
New Delhi
25 January 2007