16 February 2001 U.S. Deeply Regrets Russian Shipment of Uranium Fuel to India The United States deeply regrets "that the Russian Federation has shipped nuclear fuel to the Tarapur power reactors in India in violation of Russia's nonproliferation commitments," State Department Deputy Spokesman Philip T. Reeker said February 16. The shipment to India, Reeker said, "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," he said. Following is the text of the statement: 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. (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov) Return to the Washington File