MOSCOW, February 12 (RIA Novosti corr. Alevtina Shchepetina) - Russian Atomic Energy Minister Alexander Rumyantsev believes the Kyoto protocol is "pure politics" and does not have any relation to technology and industry. He said this to the news agency Thursday.
"I don't see any scientific grounds under the Kyoto protocol, I can tell you this as a physicist. The Kyoto protocol is pure politics, it has no relation to technology and industry," said the minister.
Rumyantsev said the Kyoto protocol envisages a fine for emissions into the atmosphere but does not envisage any fee for "oxygen delivery." "Russia, with its forests, is practically an oxygen supplier for the whole world. It's necessary to suggest those who support the Kyoto protocol formalize this issue in money terms. No one is going to pay us for our forests producing oxygen, but we'll be fined for what we discharge into the atmosphere," Rumyantsev said.
