FOREIGN MINISTRY SAYS IRAN HAS THE RIGHT TO PEACEFUL USE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY

MOSCOW, February 25 (RIA Novosti correspondent Dmitry Panovkin) - Russia supports Iran's right, as a state-member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to peacefully use nuclear energy. Russia is going to continue its bilateral cooperation in this sphere, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Alexander Yakovenko, told the Iranian news agency on Wednesday.

"Our side will meet its commitments on building a nuclear power plant in Bushehr. The construction process is controlled by the Russian side which is doing its best to put the nuclear power plant in operation," the Russian diplomat said.

The Foreign Ministry told RIA Novosti that Mr. Yakovenko praised Russia and Iran's cooperation in the sphere of nuclear power. Mr. Yakovenko noted that Moscow was glad to know that Iran had signed the Additional Protocol to the Agreement on Guarantees with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

"This move on the part of Iranian leadership shows that Tehran intends to move gradually toward full transparency of its nuclear program," Mr. Yakovenko said .

"We are sure that signing of the additional protocol and its immediate application will contribute to clarifying the remaining questions about Tehran's nuclear program," Mr Yakovenko added.