Wednesday, May 5, 2010 - UNITED NATIONS -- The Obama administration within the next few days intends to submit a U.S.-Russian civil nuclear cooperation agreement to Congress for review, just as Washington is pressing for Moscow’s support on sanctions against Iran, U.S. officials tell Global Security Newswire (see GSN, Sept. 9, 2008).
(May. 5) - Activists, shown near a train loaded with depleted uranium in France last month, protest exports of nuclear waste to Russia. The Obama administration plans to seek congressional approval of a civil nuclear cooperation agreement that could enable the United States to send its own waste to its former Cold War rival (Bertrand Langlois/Getty Images).
“These kinds of agreements, from a practical standpoint, are a model for how countries can pursue their inherent right to nuclear energy without a greater proliferation risk,” a senior State Department official said, speaking on condition of not being named.
However, behind the scenes, the administration is reportedly having qualms about submitting the accord to Capitol Hill in short order, having heard negative feedback last week from both sides of the aisle in the House and Senate about how this deal might affect other pending legislation. More >>>
