U.S. revives cooperation with Russia on civilian nuclear energy
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U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday revived a stalled agreement with Russia on cooperation on civilian nuclear energy, as the latest effort to reset relations with the Kremlin.
The agreement, signed in Moscow on May 6, 2008, had been asked for suspension by President George W. Bush in September amid tensions with the Russian government after the Russia-Georgia military conflict.
In a letter to the Congress, Obama said that "the situation in Georgia need no longer be considered an obstacle to proceeding" with the agreement, adding that U.S. needs Russia's support on sanctions against Iran.
"The level and scope of U.S.-Russia cooperation on Iran are sufficient to justify resubmitting the proposed agreement to the Congress," said the president, renewing call for U.S. lawmakers to review the agreement.
"I approve the proposed agreement and have determined that the performance of the agreement will promote, and will not constitute an unreasonable risk to, the common defense and security," said Obama.
He convinced the Congress that the United States and Russia have significantly increased cooperation on nuclear non-proliferation and civilian nuclear energy in the past 12 months, and that the two governments are committed to bring the cooperation agreement into force.
"It is now appropriate to move forward with this agreement for cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy," said the president.
Under the agreement, which has a 30-year-term, the two nuclear super powers could deepen their cooperation on civilian nuclear energy, including commercial nuclear trade, technology transfers and joint research and development.
Also, the agreement could provide Russia with access to U.S. advanced nuclear technologies and nuclear markets, and the right to receive U.S.-origin nuclear materials around the world into Russia for storage or processing.
The proposed agreement must be sent to the Congress for a 90-day review, during which the lawmakers could abolish it.
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