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Russia urges Australia to honour uranium deal
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-03-17 16:24

CANBERRA -- Russia urged Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Foreign Minister Stephen Smith to honour a deal to sell uranium to the former Soviet state in a meeting on Tuesday.

"In the field of peaceful uses of nuclear energy, I believe there is no alternative to this cooperation because it is fruitful for both Russia and Australia," chairman of the Upper House of the Russian Parliament Sergey Mironov said.

After the meeting in Canberra, Mironov told reporters he will lent his support to Rudd's proposal for an Asia Pacific Community by 2020.

"Russia is interested in this initiative undertaken by Kevin Rudd about setting up the Asia Pacific Community," Mironov said in the parliament.

Mironov has described the proposal as a good idea but believes it should concentrate on security and other matters and leave the regional forum for economics to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) gathering.

"This new entity would rather detail political problems and problems of security. Russia is considering thoroughly this initiative and our president will respond to this initiative in proper time," Mironov said.

The former Howard government had struck a deal, which estimated to be 1 billion Australian dollars ($0.66 billion) worthy with Moscow in 2006. The deal was to sell uranium to Russia on the proviso it be used for civilian purposes under strict safeguards.

But the parliament's treaties committee recommended in September last year the government delay the deal until Australia can be certain Russia will meet its obligations under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.