MOSCOW, February 14 (RIA Novosti) - Russia and France are in favor of giving countries that do not have nuclear fuel cycle programs access to uranium enrichment services, a joint statement said Tuesday.
The joint Russian-French statement was adopted Tuesday in Moscow after French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin held talks in the Russian capital.
Both sides outlined their intentions to exchange equipment and science and technical data in the use of nuclear energy, particularly with developing countries, within the framework of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on January 31 that uranium enrichment centers could be set up in other "nuclear club" countries, providing access on a non-discriminatory basis to nations seeking nuclear fuel for power stations.
Russia and France also agreed to support initiatives on multilateral approaches to the nuclear fuel cycle and to develop secure, economical and stable systems of nuclear energy.
"Nuclear energy has always and will continue to play a significant role for the coming generations in solving the problem of stable development in the context of the growing demand for energy in the world," the statement said.
