Disarmament Diplomacy

Issue No. 46, May 2000

Putin Relaxes Nuclear Material Export Requirement, Eyes Contracts with India

On May 12, the Washington Post reported that President Putin had signed a decree lifting a 1992 injunction, signed by President Yeltsin, against the export of nuclear materials or equipment to countries which do not have full-scope safeguards agreements with the IAEA. According to Yuri Bespalko, a spokesperson for the Atomic Energy Ministry, the new decree "expands Russia's…possibilities for exporting nuclear materials." Bespalko added that the change of regulations had been made with specific reference to a contract to build two nuclear reactors in India. The contract was initially concluded in 1988, before the 1992 injunction, and reconfirmed, but not subsequently acted upon, in 1998.

Report: Russia to allow nuclear exports, Washington Post, May 12

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